Its hard to quantify this but Silver haired bats fly slower than say, Big
Brown or other bats. They have a distinctive sort grizzled silver fur on
their back (sort of like my beard I guess) and they are noticeably paler
underside than topside. However its not very common to be able to see any
of this in a swirling dipping bat unless you happen to magically get one in
your bins for the brief second before it right turns out of your view. I
have found them in the winter under Cedar bark before so they are around and
if I were a bat I'd be active these days, lots of tasty bugs up and at em
with this warmth. I had a very handsome Noctuid moth at my window last
night, big one....good bat food.

Rob Sandelin
Naturalist, Writer, Teacher
Snohomish County WA


_____

From: tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Ed Swan
Sent: Saturday, February 06, 2010 5:02 PM
To: tweeters
Subject: [Tweeters] Is it early for bats?


Just now I looked up in our clearing in the woods and saw a bat with a 5-6"
wing span and 3-4" long and fairly chunky. Is it early for them to be back
and is that enough of a description to tell which species?

Ed Swan
Vashon Island

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