Perez's Frog...

A brief 15 minute visit to RSPB Ham Wall  on Saturday afternoon allowed me time to check on the introduced population of Perez's Frogs Pelophylax perezi by the car park. Pleased to say they are still showing very well although they are quick to leap off the banks of the ponds and the first you know they are there is when you hear them plop into the water. A couple of nice adults stayed put long enough for photos though and were clearly enjoying the late Autumn sunshine.

Pelophylax perezi, Ham Wall:R. Harris

Pelophylax perezi, Ham Wall:R. Harris

Pelophylax perezi, Ham Wall:R. Harris

More about them on my post from last summer.

Brown Long-eared Bat...

Despite the recent drop in temperatures during the evenings, the bats around Whitestaunton have continued to be active as they feed up before their winter roost. Over the last week I've recorded Common Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle  Serotine, Daubenton's, Leisler's, Noctule and Brown Long-eared - all from the garden.

The Noctules have performed particularly well, showing early in the evening and feeding over our garden and the pasture beyond. The Brown Long-eared has been recorded three times this week, unusual considering there have only been two previous records. This is presumably an individual relocating for the winter. The spectrogram below shows its distinctive call with harmonic.

Brown Long-eared Bat echo location calls.

The calls of Brown Long-eared are very quiet and difficult to pick up if more than a few meters away - this one must have been very close! Hopefully another two or three weeks of bat surveying left before winter hibernation.