First Post: Flying Foxes

So I'm kicking off my birding blog with a post about non-birds.  But they have wings and can fly so it's kinda on the right track.

Grey-headed Flying-foxes.

Way back in May I went to visit the Grey-headed Flying-fox colony at Yarra Bend Park.  The plan was to try some phonescoping and watch them fly out at dusk.

A small selection.

And a few more.

The phonescoping went ok but the bats all stayed put well into dusk so we didn't get to see them leaving for their nighttime adventures.  I've seen them flying out once before, but that was during the warmer months.  Perhaps when the nights are longer they sleep in a bit.

Snoozing in the sun.

Many were sleeping soundly, a few stretching, scratching and squabbling, and there was also some very noisy mating going on.  I politely averted my gaze and did not take photos of that - awkward!

Stretching.

More stretching and a foxy face!

You can view the colony from the Bellbird Picnic Area.  Check out the trees along the riverbank there but you can also follow the track heading north from the carpark.  There's a viewing platform and then the track will take you further upstream - just in case you haven't had your fill of flying-foxes yet!

Even more flying-foxes upstream...

I'll be back when there are babies!