Photo of Bryony on arrival. She was seen during the daytime sitting on a wall and was still sitting there the following afternoon. She was delivered to me covered in mites, stiff as a board, and weighing 2.66g. She should have been at least 4.50g. She slowly...
Journal
Absolutely chuffed to bits
Iggy fast asleep after having his lunch. Barbastelles have beautiful long silky browny-black fur flecked with white tips. GOOD NEWS Years ago we placed two bat boxes on trees outside our garden gate. We have just learned that one is absolutely stuffed full of...
Brian & Batty Bridget Flight
Iggy, Barbastelle, waiting for his meal this a.m. I am now sitting in the dark, all wrapped up against the cold and damp, and counting my blessings. I am a lucky girl to have the support and help needed, to help me care for my rescued bats. With more bats...
Iggy Barbastelle in the bat flight
Iggy having a rest in one of the bat boxes after flying in the bat flight. Iggy's weight has gradually increased since his arrival and I let him guide me as to when he's had enough to eat. He is in a 38gallon: 42 x 42 x 76 cm flex. We started on five meals per day and...
Expenses to date
My new soft flooring. 🙂 FROM JAN. 2022 MONTHLY PURCHASES: Mealworms (Jan) £7.33 Mealworms (Feb) £7.76 Mealworms (Feb) £5.93 Oralade (Feb) £5.85 Mealworms (March) £7.76 Feeding Dish + Tweezers £8.79 Mealworms (March 18th) £5.93 Mealworms (April 2nd) £5.00 VetArk Zol...
Covid and bats
Wildlife spotting again in an almost empty hospital car park. Gull, magpie, squirrels, and jackdaw for company. Good to see a couple of nestboxes in the trees. Almost a clear run-through to get to the hospital due to 'the funeral', with hardly a car on the road. On...
Koumori Free
Before and after 'Koumori' photos. 30th August - Koumori on arrival and in need of help. A very unhappy, dehydrated, underweight, and poorly bat. 21st September - A lovely transformation. After weeks of warmth, care, and good food - Koumori, our lovely healthy Brown...
Chaffinches
Until approx. 5 years ago I would see 50-100 chaffinches pecking around underneath an avenue of beech trees close to home. Now there are only a few, hence I was delighted to see 2-3 pairs of chaffinches in our garden over the past month. I wondered why so few. I...
Too chilly
Successful flying practice for each of my bats tonight. Every night I am outside with my rescues in order to help them fly free. First into the flight was Bryony, Pip, then Iggy, Barbastelle, and finally Koumori, my Brown Long-eared. Each is healthy, eating well, and...
What’s the hold up?
Iggy saying: 'What’s the hold up? I’m hungry, hmm.. that looks interesting.' Sorting Iggy’s paperwork and in the process of collecting details: where found, finders names, etc from Salisbury hospital, I learned that my little rare Barbastelle, had been seen flying...
Peacock at Larmer Tree
Lovely to receive an inquiry and sale today. My 'Peacock at Larmer Tree Gardens' fine art print is now enroute to his new home. I portrayed the original painting in watercolour and gouache, alla prima, an Italian phrase that means ‘at first attempt’. It refers...
So far – so good
Have just finished feeding late-night supper to Iggy, my young, rescued Barbastelle bat. They are a rare species and over my years of bat caring, I've heard that Barbastelles' don’t necessarily take well to being confined; they are extremely sensitive, and easily...
Barbastelle
A busy day that started with a rescue call from Sal. Hosp. Sadly the finder had been advised to put the bat in a box and release it tonight at 8 p.m. Whatever bat species, this is not good advice and it is sad to hear that people have either been advised to, or think...
Crazy a’noon.
Crazy afternoon - no work done. Received a bat rescue call from a (well-known chain) camera shop, 45 mins away. I couldn't collect and they wouldn’t deliver. All I kept hearing was: 'I'll just let it go tonight then'. Trying to get the boss to understand the...
Bat Release – Little Amal
Just returned from a brilliant release. As soon as we stepped out of the car a bat flew above us. Within seconds the detector picked up more calls. The finder was in the States and his mum greeted us. She made it clear she disliked bats. Little Amal took off after a...