The reddish pelage should rule out any other species.  A quick check of my 
references does not turn up any other species with red fur, at least not on 
this continent.

Kurt Schwarz
HowCo
goawaybird at verizon dot net

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stephen Davies" <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, March 08, 2010 10:24 AM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] OT: Daytime Eastern Red Bat?


Hi All

A bit off-topic, I know, but I hope you'll forgive me...

While walking the trails at the National Wildlife Visitor Center in Laurel 
on Saturday afternoon, we were surprised to see this bat hawking for insects 
in broad daylight, around 3:00PM. As we usually only see these animals in 
fading light at the beginning and end of the day, it was a treat to see this 
one in full sun. I was able to squeeze off a couple of photos, which I've 
posted on my blog and on Flickr:

http://chlorophonia.blogspot.com/2010/03/eastern-red-bat-03-06-2010.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chlorophonia/

From the large size (may 12" wingspan?), golden-orange fur, white shoulder 
patch and furred interfemoral membrane, I'm guessing this is an Eastern Red 
Bat (Lasiurus borealis)? I confess I don't know much about these guys, so it 
would be great if someone out there could either confirm or correct me.

I was concerned that a bat abroad on a winter afternoon might be suffering 
from white-nose syndrome, an apparent fungal infection which has decimated 
the populations of certain bat species in the Northeast over the last couple 
years. However, I understand this disease is primarily affecting those 
species that roost communally in caves, and red bats are a rather solitary 
tree-roosting species? If anyone has any information they can share on this, 
I'd be very interested. Thanks!

There wasn't a lot to see bird-wise, but we did see a couple of turtles 
basking (my first this year) - Eastern Painted I think? Again, photo at the 
above links. And a Northern Mockingbird doing that awesomely goofy 
wing-lifting display (there - I got a bird in at the end).

Spring is out there somewhere

Cheers

Stephen

Stephen J. Davies
Silver Spring, MD


"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just 
squandered" ~ George Best