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
Great captures of the bats, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
Guy
Regina In Pictures
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.
ReplyDeleteMy 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.
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.
ReplyDeleteSuch a cool sky watch!! I can't even imagine seeing all of those bats flying out like that, especially during the day!
ReplyDeleteAh 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...
ReplyDeleteThey look huge! I've seen lots of flying bats in Texas, but none this big or is their size an optical illusion.
ReplyDeletewhoa! what a neat capture.
ReplyDeleteO 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
ReplyDeleteA really cool skywatch contribution! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHow can we call them a Flying Fox AND a Bat?
ReplyDeleteSurely they have to be one or the other ...
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.
ReplyDeleteGood 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.
ReplyDeleteNow that is a sight. Great capture. Smiles B
ReplyDeleteThis is near noosaville isn't it? Iwas there at Christmas time, huge amount of bats are there.
ReplyDeleteFantastic shot! I have never heard them called flying foxes before.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great catch! Very cool shot.
ReplyDeleteWonderful 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.
ReplyDeleteSmiles