In 2005 I recorded Noctules near Eckford and Newtown St Boswells, in the Borders. Since then I've heard of several convincing records of Noctules in south-east Scotland (loosely defined as the NT 100km grid square, south of the Forth). Are they moving North? Or have they perhaps always been present at a low density?
To investigate I set out to gather all the available records. Many people have very generously shared their data (see the list of contributors below). Surprisingly 42 records have so far come to light. Difficulties have included:
- It is hard to distinguish Noctule calls from those of it's close relative, Leisler's Bat (Nyctalus leisleri, without experience or a recording to analyse.
- Some records are for visual sightings of large bats flying in the open. Again, these cannot be validated as Noctule records, but are sufficently convincing to be worth documenting.
- Some records have very approximate locations.
Despite these problems it has been possible to produce a provisional atlas, showing what appears to be a concentration of records in the Tweed Valley, around Kelso, with likely sightings as far west as Peebles and as far east as Berwick-on-Tweed. There is a sparse scattering of possible sightings along the coast to the Lothians, where there are several very convincing records.
(If you don't have Powerpoint clic</a>k here: Noctule Atlas)
My plan for 2008 is to carry out a series of surveys, using an adaptation of BCT's car survey methodology. This will allow large areas to be surveyed, reflecting the fact that the bats seem likely to be sparsely distributed. Noctules tend to forage in open spaces and usually echolocate with a loud call, detectable from several hundred metres away, so this method seems promising.
I would be grateful for any Noctule records for SE Scotland not already included. Please include the date, accurate location (NGR if possible) and how the bat was identified.
Thanks to the following people, who have made, supplied or validated records: Stuart Smith, Natalie Taylor, Nigel Terry, Carol Ann Hodgson, Pete Reynolds, Kate Barlow, Douglas McKenna, Leslie Cook, Ian Carle, John Haddow, Jerry Herman, Graeme Wilson, Keith Robeson, Anna Craigen, Christopher Green, Will Murray, Sarah Eno, John Mercer, Angela Mercer, Michael Scott, Phil Richardson, Scottish Borders Biological Records Centre, Berwick-on-Tweed Wildlife Group, Bat Conservation Trust.
© David Dodds (2008)
