AEWC Ltd BatCRU Animal Ecology & Wildlife Consultants Bat Conservation & Research Unit draft report Barbastelle Bats In The South Downs National Park Daniel Whitby & Sean Shereston Contents Acknowledgments Executive summary 1. Introduction 2. Methodology 2.1. Trapping 2.2. Processing 2.3. Radio-tracking 3. Constraints 4. Results 5. Discussion 6. Recommendations 7. Further Research This report is still in a draft stage and has been completed to this stage to provide information for a LIFE+ bid application. This document has been completed in September 2015 when the project is still ongoing with additional information to be added later including information on trees and tree roosts, additional trapping sites and trapping results and the results of swarming surveys at sites within the project range where barbastelle bats are ringed and movement between other sites. An updated report is planned to be completed in February 2016. This report has been prepared by Bat Conservation & Research Unit and AEWC Ltd. All copyright is retained by the authors and there can be no use or reliance on the information provide within this report by any third parties. This report can’t be used as information toward any EIA, EPS or planning application without approval of the authors. Bat Conservation and research Unit - Registered Office: Butler’s House, North Street, Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0DP Registered Charity in England and Wales No. 1162707 AEWC Ltd - Registered Office: Butler’s House, North Street, Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0DP Registered in England & Wales no 06527840 Contact Daniel Whitby – [email protected] 1 Acknowledgments We would like to thank the South Downs National Park Authority and National Trust for supporting the development of this project, specifically Emily Brennan and Crispin Scott for assistance on securing funding and grant application. We would like to thank all organisations who generously funded the project: the South Downs National Park, Chichester District Council and Natural England. We would like to thank the National Trust for support of the project through provision of accommodation, especially Tim Cook, Mark Knight, and Mark Wardle for providing the use of a basecamp and accommodation for the research officer during the summer months. Thanks to all the volunteers and assistants who have helped with the project and research at some point over the summer survey period, Daniel Hargreaves, Steve Parker, Fiona Parker, Iain Hysom, Luci Kirkpatrick, Ross Baker, Lynn Whitfield, Vicky Worral, Tom Foxley, Kate Sharma, Matt Cook, Xenia Snowman, Rob Cocoran, Natasja Groenink, Angelena Efstathiou, Heidi Cooper- berry, Brigitte De Coriolis, Graeme Smart, Rose-Anne Movsovic, Diana Clarke, Katheryn Leggat, Annika Binet, Henry Glynn, Katia Bresso Thanks to all the landowners who have helped and facilitated access to conduct surveys and research on their properties most notably Goodwood estate, The National Trust, Forestry Commission and Leconfield Estate. A special thanks to our South Downs barbastelle officer Sean Shereston who has worked tirelessly for endless hours throughout the summer above and beyond normal working requirements towards the success of the project. 2 1. Introduction 1.1. There are records of barbastelle bats within the project area of Sussex going back to the 1980s; the first record within the Sussex Biodiversity Records Centre is of one individual from Cocking abandoned railway tunnel, with odd individuals being recorded since this then at Cocking and Drovers railway tunnels. 1.2. In 1996 barbastelle bats were identified at Ebernoe common, with the first identified breeding colony in 1998 through the radio tracking of females from this site. Since this time extensive studies have been conducted between 1998 and 2008 on this species at Ebernoe during which a second colony was identified in 2001 at The Mens. These colonies were studied between 2001 and 2008. 1.3. Between 1998 and 2008 there has been extensive research conducted at both sites on the colonies present with 329 individuals ringed and 38 radio tagged. This has identified roost and foraging habitat use and requirements, colony structure, breeding success and longevity – providing the most extensive study into this species within the UK. (F. Greenaway, Bats in the West Sussex West Weald 1997-2008) 1.4. Two breeding female barbastelle bats were caught in Slindon Wood in the summer of 2013 during a research training course, which prompted radio-tracking surveys of these individuals. These surveys revealed a maternity colony within the wood. Further surveys of the colony in 2014 identified a number of new roosts, some important flight lines and core foraging areas, and established an approximate roost size of forty bats with an unknown number of adults and juveniles. (D. Whitby Barbastelle Radio tracking Survey 2014, AEWC Ltd)) 1.5. During a trapping survey on Goodwood estate in 2014 another breeding female barbastelle was caught, subsequent radio tagging identified a new maternity colony at Goodwood estate. From this roost 18 bats were caught and ringed and subsequently that autumn 2 individuals were caught at Drovers SAC abandoned tunnel, Barbastelle bats have been caught for over two decades at this site and this was the first identification of a breeding colony being connected with the bats found at this site. 1.6. This report is to cover the data collected from surveys conducted in 2015 along with previously identified information, notably the 2014 barbastelle survey work with the aim of identifying important foraging areas, roosting sites and flight lines. 1.7. Trapping surveys were conducted by Daniel Whitby and radio-tracking by Sean Shereston, both Natural England Licensed bat workers. The surveys involved trapping, radio-tagging, and radio-tracking barbastelle bats within the South Downs National Park – predominantly for the already identified two new colonies at the Slindon National Trust estate, and Goodwood estate. 1.8. Radio-tracking surveys provide details of important flight lines and core foraging areas for tagged individuals, as well as identifying both maternity and satellite roost sites. 1.9. This report provides the results from radio-tracking of six individuals from Goodwood, and five individuals from Slindon estate, as well as information on additional barbastelle bats 3 from three newly discovered groups which require further research. 2014 Radio-tracking data from four individuals from Slindon, and one from Goodwood is also included. Aims 1.10. The purpose of the project is multi-faceted – it is predominantly to gather information to inform conservation and enhancement of Barbastelle bats within the project area, most notably through a LIFE+ bid application for a wide area including the colonies already studied at Ebernoe and The Mens. 1.11. Following on from the success of a SITA Trust grant to conduct habitat enhancements at Slindon, a LIFE+ bid (E.U Application) is being prepared with the National Trust and South Downs National Park Authority to conduct habitat enhancements and improvements for barbastelle and Bechstein’s bats within the project area (See plan 1). This is supported by a number of organisations including AEWC, Bat Conservation Trust, and BatCRU (Bat Conservation Research Unit) a charity who advise on species requirements. 1.12. This research can also be used for any other grant applications for further research or habitat improvements and enhancements, which may be at a site level, and to provide information to land owners and estate managers on management recommendations for this species. The data and research within this project will be made available to a number of parties to inform decision making. 1.13. The aims of the project can be summarised as - • To conduct research into the population, core maternity roosting areas, flight lines, and core foraging areas for the barbastelle colonies at Goodwood and Slindon estate. • To search for new barbastelle colonies that are within, or using habitat within the LIFE+ proposed project’s area. • To provide guidance on management and recommendations to estate managers where barbastelle colonies are present. • To provide information to local councils to inform planning policy pertaining to potential impacts on barbastelle bats and their habitats. • To identify further areas of research or potential impacts on barbastelle bats, nationally or locally. • To provide data and recommendations to inform habitat enchantments for grant applications – notably, but not restricted to, the LIFE+ bid. 4 Plan 1 – Showing proposed LIFE+ bid project area. 5 2. Methodology 2.1. Trapping Trapping surveys began in May 2015, running throughout the active season with a break between the end of June and the middle of July when the colonies were heavily pregnant and giving birth. Trapping surveys involved the placement of harp traps and mist nets on flight-lines used by barbastelle in 2013 and 2014, as well as within the maternity woodland, in order to target bats from these colonies. Acoustic lures (Sussex Autobat) were employed during some surveys, however these were used sparingly and not near any known maternity roost locations. On three occasion bats were trapped from the roost to enable ringing of individuals and selection of a suitable bat to tag. This was performed using a specialist roost harp trap, and only carried out once for each colony. 2.2. Processing All captured bats were identified, sexed, and reproductive status assessed. All bats were released at the capture