A Photo Every Day from the Sunshine Coast - Australia

Friday 13 February 2009

Bats Skywatch



Sometimes skywatching is more about what's in it than the sky itself. These flying foxes or fruit bats as they are known roost in the mangroves by day and had their sleep disturbed by something. In the evening, they can be seen heading off in their hundreds in long silent columns, towards their feeding grounds.

Ann's Sydney Meanderings featured a much closer view of a single flying fox two weeks ago, but these are over a rather wide stretch of water, so it was not quite possible to get closer!

Find links to lots more Skywatch images on the Skywatch Portal!

Mountain Creek

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia
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17 comments

Guy D said...

Great captures of the bats, thanks for sharing.

Have a great weekend!
Guy
Regina In Pictures

Pearl Maple said...

Great post on the flying foxes. You should sign on for their marketing team as it would be so easy to get the wrong impression of what bats are.

My family are in wild life rescue and we come in contact with quiet a few. They are an important part of the ecological systems, shame about the image we all have of them.

Pat - Arkansas said...

It's too bad they were disturbed from their naps, but otherwise you would not have this great photo! Thanks for sharing. Very good sky watch.

Kim said...

Such a cool sky watch!! I can't even imagine seeing all of those bats flying out like that, especially during the day!

cara said...

Ah lovely. After seeing Ann's post I have been trying in vain to get the Brisbane bats to pose for me but my efforts are a bit lame. My excuse is that my area of Brisbane is their destination so it's always nearly dark by the time they arrive... and the trees are really tall...

Lowell said...

They look huge! I've seen lots of flying bats in Texas, but none this big or is their size an optical illusion.

Photo Cache said...

whoa! what a neat capture.

Anonymous said...

O Wow,,, Good job!! This is my 1st time on your blog,, We just spent Christmas holiday at maroochydore,, lovely place!!!!!! here is what I captured http://whenmomtalks.com/2009/02/skywatch-friday.html

Rottlady of the Ozarks said...

A really cool skywatch contribution! Thanks for sharing.

Julie said...

How can we call them a Flying Fox AND a Bat?

Surely they have to be one or the other ...

marie-louise said...

Great skywatch - especially as you captured the bats flying during daytime. I see mine flying overhead when it gets dark and land in a large Morton Bay Fig Tree to feed on the fruit. Well done.

Ann said...

Good shot. I've never seen more than two or three flying at once in the daytime. Always thought the flying fox was a type of bat. It took me months to get a good shot of them on the wing, they are so fast.

Barbara said...

Now that is a sight. Great capture. Smiles B

Anonymous said...

This is near noosaville isn't it? Iwas there at Christmas time, huge amount of bats are there.

Lois said...

Fantastic shot! I have never heard them called flying foxes before.

Lisa Wilson said...

That's a great catch! Very cool shot.

Carolyn said...

Wonderful photo but I am sure glad they live in your neck of the woods! Thank you for sharing, your blog has wonderful photos...I will come back a read more.
Smiles

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