In July this year SACWG organised a Saturday Bioblitz in Cudwell meadow. The Mammal Society had offered to help us with information stalls and small mammal traps, so the focus this year was most definitely on mammals! The event was open to all.
Bioblitz Photo Credit Isabel Carter
Thirty small mammal traps were placed in three areas of the meadow on the Thursday night under the guidance of Stuart Edmunds, Chair of the Mammal Society. These were left open for mammals to familiarise themselves with them. On the Friday evening food and bedding was added and the traps set. The same evening three local bat enthusiasts came with bat detectors to check out what species were visiting the meadow. Over the course of 90 minutes or so a total of 5 species were noted; Noctule and Brown Long-eared bat were confirmed with another occasional sounding possibly of Natterers or another Myotis species. Both Pipistrelle species were particularly busy.
On the Saturday morning of the Bioblitz, we had a good attendance of all ages of people, and the mammal traps were gathered in and opened. The traps yielded Bank vole, Wood mice and Field vole, all in good condition which were then returned to their area of the meadow. Stuart talked about each species as the traps were opened.
Bank Vole Photo Credit Isabel Carter
Insects also had a focus – nets, pots and ID guides were provided with some very enthusiastic young people joining in. Eleven species of beetle were found, including 5 different species of ladybirds and their larvae. Five species of shieldbug, 8 species of bees plus a very satisfying 18 different species of butterfly and day-flying moths were also identified.
Stuart led a walk around the meadow pointing out how to look for signs of mammals – burrows, droppings from rabbits, mole hills, leaves flattened, badger and fox trails under the fence, footprints etc. He showed people where a Muntjak deer has been making itself comfortable in one of our wood lots, and to everyone’s surprise found hare droppings.
During the summer months the Mammal Society has placed wooden boxes with short range trail cameras around the meadow, filming the small mammal species that wander in and out of the boxes. In addition to species already known about, these cameras have now confirmed Shrew, Pygmy shrew, Wood mice and to our great delight Water shrew and Weasel.
This brings us to a total of 21 species of mammal resident in or adjacent to the meadow. Including another more unwelcome mammal as several cats love to go hunting vole in the meadow. There are also two regular seasonal visitors – otter and roe deer.
Twenty-four species of mammal in such a small site is special. In previous years we have also found signs of Water vole and Harvest mice – but alas there have been no recent sightings of these charismatic mammals.
