Gooroo: Birds & Bats

The last few evenings I have wandered
to a spot in Goorooyarroo Reserve. Each evening has been calm and cloudless
with spectacular views of Canberra and the ranges.
Birds observed include Varied Sittella
(6), Scarlet Robin (2), Speckled Warbler (2), Rufous Whistler (1) and Mistletoebird
(heard).

Also right on cue each evening seconds
after the sun drops behind the Brindies bats appeared, still clearly visible
in the ambient light. Yesterday a single (possible) White-striped Mastiff
(or Freetail) was the first to appear at 5.40pm. I am pretty sure I could
see the white striped fur along its body. I couldnt make out its tail.
Unfortunately it also had an obvious tear in its membrane. This individual
only flapped around for a minute or two (between the trees in open space
mostly at canopy level) before retiring back to its tree hollow or under
bark in a tall Yellow Box. Then 4-5 smaller bats appeared (each evening
at 5.45pm), which I now believe to be most likely Gould's Wattled Bats
(from extensive reading in my reference books and online afterwards). These
bats were present each evening until I left around 6.15pm.

The (supposed) Wattle Bats were agile
fast fliers, flying between the top of the tree canopy and to about 2-3m
off the ground, nearly always in the large open areas between eucalypts
and sometimes covering a lot of ground. The vegetation structure here is
open woodland with a grassy understorey in a small valley. Sometimes they
would fly fast horizontally and reach higher than the tree canopy. They
were highly manouverable with sudden dips and turns of speed. They did
not fly near or up the surrounding hills. Several would also spend some
time above a tree-fringed small dam. They appeared to have brownish fur
in the remaining light and had an embedded tail as far as I could see.

I suspect not many species of bat are
active this time of year? If anyone has any ideas on their identification
that would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Marnix

 

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