Our rescued bat is now with a rehabber, doing well, and waiting for a few warm nights to return tio the wild.

A big thank you to Donna Pontrelli, Dr. Pomerantz, and all the other folks at the Franklin Lakes Animal Hospital for making this happen!

My friend Dorcas writes: "Thinking it is either as big brown (Eptesicus) or little brown (Myotis). Not a migrator. They hibernate, roost, behind shutters of houses, in attics or such places.

"They stir when first warm teas arrive and they are hungry - only to find little in way of insect life to feed on. The two species are among the most beneficial mammals in suburbia."

(Thanks, Dorcas!)

I have been told "our" bat is a Big Brown Bat.

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bats/hibernate-or-migrate.htm#:~:text=When

The bonus mystery was: Name that High Mountain amphibian, regenerating its tail.

Diane Louie answered correctly: Marbled Salamander....

On Monday I wrote:

Saw these three plants in the Clove at High Mountain. I got one correct, and should have gotten another.

Diane Louie answered Dutchman's Breeches (gotta love that name), and Middle and bottom: Rue anemone vs. False rue anemone. I would have gone with Spring Beauty for the middle (but what do I know), and iNaturalist said it was Blue Cohosh (blue what do they know?)   

Thanks, Diane!

'Tis the season for Baltimore Orioles and other migrating birds. Photo: Ron Shields
My column in The Record today is about an extremely useful website that lets you know which birds should be migrating in our area, and when.

You can read it here:

In yesterday's post, I described how I found a distressed bat on the side steps of my house. I called the Franklin Lakes Animal Hospital, and Tyco Animal Control brought the bat there.

The last I heard, the bat is on the mend. The animal hospital reports:

"We see them often like this. They migrate and if it’s too cold and no insects they become obtunded. We get them warmed up and have a very attentive bat person that picks them up. Often they are released when weather is better or get driven south if too cold."

(A special shout-out to the animal hospital's Donna Pontrelli, who gives injured birds and bats some extra TLC. She also sent the photo of our bat in a rehab place.) 

I'd also like to thank Joe D'Angeli for his advice, and everyone else who took an interest.