Hi, my name is Megan and I am currently completing my placement with Ecology by Design as part of my MSc in Species Identification and Survey Skills at Reading University. During this time, I hope to record my experiences by posting a blog once a month.

Despite the disruption caused by Covid-19 I have learned a lot throughout May. With the use of social distancing I have still been able to complete a range of different surveys and Zoom video calling has enabled me to remotely learn about a variety of desk-based tasks.

Throughout May I was able to complete several bat emergence surveys. These involved watching a feature (mostly lifted roof tiles) for several hours and recording any bats that leave through that feature. Although I have yet to observe an emergence I have seen numerous soprano and common pipistrelles which are often seen commuting or foraging in gardens and fields. It is always exciting to listen to their calls using a bat detector and see them flying overhead.

I was also able to complete several Preliminary Ecological Assessments which involve a walkover of the site to establish what species may use the habitats found there. Both of the PEA’s that I have completed included a Preliminary Roost Assessment which inspects a building for features that bats could be using for roosting. By climbing into loft space and exploring the area under key features, signs such as bat droppings can be found and sent away for analysis to confirm what species may be using the building.

One of the main things that I have been a part of this month is reptile translocations. This involves moving reptiles from a site where development threatens to harm them or their habitat into a safer receptor site. I have mostly been relocating slow worms which has allowed me to improve my handling technique and learn more about the types of habitat they prefer to use.

Across several sites I have also completed reptile surveys where mats are laid out and checked regularly to record the species that use the area. Reptile mats heat up throughout the day and are commonly used by reptiles for basking which enables them to be counted and recorded. Throughout these surveys I have only recorded slow worms but I look forward to observing other species over the coming months.

I have also been able to complete my first great crested newt survey which has been one of my favourite surveys so far! We got to the site half an hour before sunset to put out the bottle traps which involved staking them into the bottom of the pond and making sure that each bottle had enough air in to support any animals that were caught in them overnight. During the survey we also saw two foxes and watched a bat foraging over a different pond that was also onsite. The next morning we collected in the bottle traps and recorded all of the newts that were caught. Although we did not catch any great crested newt we were able to find a great crested newt egg during an egg search which I was able to compare to a smooth newt egg.

Another important area that I have been learning about is report writing which I have been able to begin practicing throughout May. Over Zoom I was able to learn how to use data sent from record centres to write a desk study and how this is incorporated into a wider report such as a PEA. I have also been able to write my first bat report after completing an emergence survey at the site.

I have really enjoyed my first full month of surveys and I am looking forward to gaining more experience with bats, newts and reptiles next month. I hope to be able to complete new surveys and I am looking forward to completing a ground level tree assessment and badger survey next month.