Bat(s) at Alligator River count, too

[Harry Legrand <harry.legrand@ncmail.net>]

Folks:
	After reading about Josh Rose's Red Bat on the Chapel Hill count
yesterday, I felt obliged to chime in. I too saw a Red Bat yesterday, on
the Alligator River NWR (bird) count. Actually, everyone seemed to enjoy
the mammals on the count as much as the birds. I saw a Red Bat cruising
Buffalo City Rd. from 3:45 onward (still plenty of daylight), and as it
flew low enough that I could see its color against the dark backgound of
the trees, it was clear it was a Red Bat. (I was hoping for something
rarer, like a Hoary or Silver-haired.) My highlight was a Mink that ran
across Twiford Rd (wet fields and ditches) at daybreak, one of just a
few live Minks I've seen in NC (see a few roadkills as well). And, I
heard a Red Wolf-pack just before dawn along US 64, interrupting any
chance I had to hear any owls! Other folks saw River Otters, Black
Bears, etc. It was mild enough that a Cloudless Sulphur and a Common
Green Darner were flying around, and locusts were popping up underfoot
everywhere in sheltered spots. My personal bird highlights were watching
4-6 Bald Eagles constantly flushing the several thousand ducks along
Twiford Road, normally closed to the public except for a brief time in
fall.

Jeff Lewis should have the count highlights posted shortly. No super
bird rarities to chase, unfortunately, but a very good count.
-- 
Harry LeGrand
NC Natural Heritage Program
1615 MSC
Raleigh, NC 27699-1615
(919) 715-8687 (work)
FAX: 919-715-3085
e-mail: harry.legrand@ncmail.net