Visit to bat hibernaculum, Beer Quarry Caves, 10th November 2009
(by Mike Lock)
30
members and guests gathered in the car park. After safety briefings and
the issue of helmets we were led into the caves, illuminated with red
light so as not to disturb the bats. We soon saw a Greater Horseshoe Bat hanging up on the wall, and later saw several more. We also saw several of the very small Lesser Horseshoe Bats, no bigger than a plum and weighing less than a pound coin!
Other species of bat also use the caves but tend to hide in crevices and are more difficult to find. Dr Fiona Mathews, local bat expert, answered questions and told us an enormous amount about these remarkable creatures.
Beachcombing on Axmouth Beach 4th November 2009
(by Mike Lock)
About 8 members gathered by Axmouth Bridge and walked eastwards along the shore beyond the harbour. Recent rough weather had brought in a number of different seaweeds, included three of the big kelps. The rooting systems (holdfasts) of these act as a nursery for sea creatures, and we found tiny mussels settled among the ‘roots’. On the kelp fronds were the delicate patterns of sea mats (bryozoans), and tiny hydroids (jellyfish relatives). We saw skeletons of both shore crabs and edible crabs, and also the skeleton of a very large lobster, minus claws!