To The Batcave!

Actually, more than one bat cave.  I was with a small group doing a bat survey.  You need a bat conservator's license for this, so I was lucky to be invited along.  This is one of a small group of caves at Combe Bank.  I am carefully not saying exactly where they are, and the GPS on the photos isn't accurate either, as there was no signal inside the caves.

I was not allowed to photograph the bats, even without a flash.  Apparently you need a license for that too .. but we did see several.  Some Natterer's, a Daubenton's and a Long-eared, tucked right into tiny crevices with just noses, wingtips and ears showing.  We also saw some cave spiders, which don't need a license ...

Cave Spider, perhaps Meta merianae, at Combe Bank on 24 February 2013.

I actually have some better record shots than this, but this one, taken by torchlight, is the most atmospheric.  And quite tricky to take, with torch in one hand and large camera in the other.

There was also a beetle, some mosquitos, some woodlice and lots of Ichneumon Wasps, probably Ambyletes species, but so far unidentified.

Unidentified Ichneumon Wasp at Combe Bank, 24 February 2013.

There are several similar species and this doesn't quite match any in my rather limited insect book.

There were several of these; they are the spiders' egg-cases, well wrapped in silk and hanging by a thread from the roof of the cave.

Cave spider egg sac.  Probably Meta merianae.  Combe Bank, 24 February 2013.

And this was just one site - though there are several small caves here.  It was a very interesting day!