Re: [APML] critter stories

["Jonas Carlsson" <stargazer@tiscali.se>]

Both of these stories remind me of two (or actually several) occasions when
standing in the yard of our previous house observing. (The house we lived in
then was situated in the countryside here in the south of Sweden).
Often when standing alone in the darkness there was bats coming close to me
and on at least one occasion I have felt a light wind (or touch) from a bats
wing in my hair as they just changed direction. Nothing was heard but as I
knew there was a lot of bats I felt more close to nature then scared for the
unknown.
On anotherf occasion I was standing on the same spot when I could just make
out a large shadow passing just above me. First I got a bit scared but then
I heard something big sitting down in a tree just about 30 meters from me. I
lit a torch to see what it was and saw that it was a large so-called
"mountain owl", the largest type of owl here in Sweden. That was really
nice!

Unfortunately we live in a town now and qwls of this kind is not to think
about - but there is still bats which is really nice!

Jonas Carlsson
Kristianstad, Sweden

----- Original Message -----
From: "Greg Hartke" <ghartke@adelphia.net>
To: "Discussion of Film Astrophotography" <astro-photo@seds.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 11:11 PM
Subject: RE: [APML] critter stories


>
> I hesitated to mention this experience but Don's quiet flyer story
certainly
> brought to mind the time an owl investigated me. Libby and I were on a
long
> backpacking trip (something like 10 days) in the Wind River Range in
> Wyoming. We were encamped at just about tree line, say something like
10,500
> ft. As usual, I hung around outside the tent for a while for a good look
at
> the sky. Just as the last light was fading, this enormous owl came flying
up
> and circled me 3 times at a radius of maybe 15 feet or so. It was very
> nearly silent; I could barely discern a rustle in its flight that close.
It
> finally landed on a stunted tree up the hill behind a boulder, maybe 30
feet
> away. Of course I could barely see it as a gray shape in the gloaming. I
> stood stock still not wanting to frighten it. It sang for me briefly, a
> surprisingly soft and throaty song. After a few minutes it took off,
circled
> me once more, and winged away. I guess it decided it wasn't going to
attack
> an ogre like me. Maybe it was the smell. ;) Anyway, it was an
unforgettable
> experience.
>
> Greg Hartke
> Sykesville, MD
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: astro-photo-bounces@seds.org
> > [mailto:astro-photo-bounces@seds.org]On Behalf Of westergren
> > Sent: Monday, December 08, 2003 1:05 PM
> > To: Discussion of Film Astrophotography
> > Subject: Re: [APML] critter stories
> >
> > Another Critter Story,
> >
> > I have heard stories of how quiet bats are when they fly.  I saw (heard)
> > first hand one night when my observing buddy and I were outside our
> > observing tents talking and enjoying the night sky.  Siloueted against
the
> > white dome tent, I saw a bat fly over my friend's head, within a
> > foot above
> > him.  Neither of us heard a thing and neither of us were talking at the
> > time.  I could see the bat wings flap, but they are absolutly quiet.
> >
> > Don
>
>
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