I have working on SEEING different creatures at the pond! Here are a few.This is a Green Heron. They are hard to see.

Saturday Photos at the Pond

We witnessed a cormorant swim, dive twice, then catch a fish (amazing) and swallow it.

He stretched his neck, the fish bulged in his throat. I am so glad I had my camera. I wish I had started shooting earlier. I didn't really know what the bird was until I zoomed in on my computer!

The cormorant's beak was distinctive.

And his wings.....

Mallard. So close.

Turtles on a log.

And an out of focus Green Heron. I thought it was a sandpiper until I looked closer. It is so hard to see what you have shot on the monitor, in the sun!

Dervish and Whisper: the Bat Dogs

Some new pictures of the "kids". The bat hunters.

Bats on the Path

Last night when we walked the dogs, Dervish and Whisper pounced on a leaf in the middle of the sidewalk. Together.
The the "leaf" turned over and sort of hissed. A tiny sound from a tiny creature. I saw its teeth and immediately knew what it was. A  BAT.
Not lively, but injured or sick. I pulled the dogs away as soon as I realized what it was.
Later, I walked back, armed with a plastic container, lid and flashlight. If it was still there, in the same spot on the sidewalk, I would capture it... without touching it, of course. Rabies?
I swapped out the lid for some mesh fabric when I got home. I duct taped it securely, and placed the container in our garage for overnight safe keeping.
In the morning, Ed made calls to Animal Control and, after MANY calls, to many places,  Lake County responded. An officer came out to pick it up. The bat was still alive... barely. They would call us if it was rabid.
I don't think the dogs were bitten, their rabies shots are current. Our vet was not concerned. If the bat turns out to be rabid ... we will see about rabies booster shots. We will take all precautions.

Memorial Day 2009