Wildlife summer 2012

[Maggi Young]

Most baby birds are quite subdued in their colouring though, aren't they?  Not getting their bright suits until maturity for the most part.

 "Eric" the young wood pigeon, who fell out of his nest in the Acer nearest our back door, was the dullest creature last week. I must say I didn't think he would manage out of the nest, since he was only able to flutter in hops. He has also had to survive some very wet and windy weather- but he's doing well so far!
  This week, with his  fledgling feathers being replaced at a rate of knots, he is barely recognisable for the same bird.  He's sitting on the neighbour's roof right now with one of his parents. The contrast between them is still striking though.

[Martinr]

I'm sure someone can identify this cute little bat for me. We have bats, type undetermined, under the boards of our dormer most years for a few weeks but this little chap is currently nestled under the sill of the kitchen window fast asleep. Seems a little unusual.

Several shots including one with a ruler to help scale

[ronm]

Very difficult from pictures Martin.  May I suggest you use the virtual key in the link below? It is very good and should put you right without too much trouble 

http://www.bio.bris.ac.uk/research/bats/britishbats/

[Martinr]

Thanks Ron, but without the necessary knowledge and licence to handle it and make detailed measurements impossible to use

[ronm]

A guesstimate will probably get you through. For instance I can't tell if it has a horseshoe nose or not, but you could peep. Then it gets easier and easier. You don't really need to pick it up, and probably shouldn't.  Don' t be put off by lack of specialist knowledge. Go on ... have a go. We won't laugh if you you key it out as a 'flying fox'!

[David Nicholson]

I think it might be a bat
 

[mark smyth]

it's a pipistrelle tho it does look a week but like a Leisler's/Noctule. Can I see a photo of it in your hand or on the curve of your thumb

Dont feed it cows milk. Water will be OK for now.

Never worry about the law and licence to handle it. You are allowed to handle it.

Lift it in your bare hand and if anyone mentions the r word I'll go funkin nuts. Keep it there until it is very awake. Now is the time to give it some water. Can you get to the roost? Never worry about the law - you're saving a bat. Once it is very active in your hand time to put it back in the hole or let it walk the last 12 inches.

I have a licence

[Martinr]

Too late mate. It's flown off, or at least it's disappeared.

The roost is 15 ft off the ground so I wouldn't have been putting it back there

[Anthony Darby]

I think with bats flying is good. The huge bat roost I saw in Cairns round the corner from our hotel was a sight to behold and be heard!

[Martinr]

Alas, the tiny bat had only got a few feet. Following Mark's advice an attempt was made to revive it but the poor wee soul didn't make it. Thanks for your help Mark.

A couple of photos attached, not great but the best I could get, showing the face and ears. Hopefully they might enable an identification.

[mark smyth]

It's not a Leisler's or Noctule anyway but on the large side to be a Soprano or Common pip.

[Maggi Young]

I thought there was something in the first photos, on the wall, of the wee bat that made me think he looked either very old or very young..... now from the close-up photos I see why I thought that.... he's very short of hair, isn't he?   Wonder if he had a skin problem, which might have been either cause or effect of being poorly.
Now, I know less than nothing about bats, but that would be my take on him if he were some other kind of beastie....
 Sweet little thing, shame to lose him.

[mark smyth]

Baby bats called pups are born without hair. How did you know it was a male? Its usually males that get in to trouble. Martin did you look?

[Maggi Young]

Baby bats called pups are born without hair. How did you know it was a male? Its usually males that get in to trouble. Martin did you look?

So was it a pup, then?  I somehow just felt it was a "he" ... he'd got that rather dopey expression when  we saw him on the wall, and it's boysthat do usually get into bother...............

[Martinr]

Baby bats called pups are born without hair. How did you know it was a male? Its usually males that get in to trouble. Martin did you look?

Eh!!!! I'm not particularly experienced in bat anatomy, especially not the naughty bits!

There was a relatively long appendage on its lower abdomen, say 3mm long. I thought it could be either a penis or umbilical cord.