Sunday, January 13, 2013

CAVES!

Bat roosting in the ceiling of cave #1

Caves --Part of my New Years Resolution 2013

Dana Koogler
Jan. 12, 2013

Part of my New Years Resolutions for 2013 was to visit and explore five caves.

Yesterday I knocked two off the list.  

Here is a short video of Cave #1.








     I also realized I am going to have to get used to encountering roosting bats from time to time if I am going to enter caves.  I have been in a cave before where there was a bat or two, but it was twenty degrees outside in the middle of Winter. The couple bats I did see were sound asleep and not interested in waking up.  Going in cave where there are LOTS of bats and it is seventy degrees outside..... even though its Winter..... they are not as sound asleep.

I got in Cave #2 later and was crawled back in a tight space and found myself surrounded by flying, flapping bats and I really could have used an extra "Depends".  I only took a few photos there because it scared the pee out of me!


Cave #1 looking out.


Roosting bats. Only a portion of the number I found roosting.


My headlamp has lit up the darkness just enough to make the drops of condensation on the cave ceiling glitter. It was unexpectedly pretty in the photo!


Possibly an eastern pipestrelle roosting in cave #2. One of the few photos I took.


Cave photography is going to take some getting used to as is not allowing myself to get SO excited that I forget to take pictures and shoot video. I will also have to get used to the bats and other unexpected visitors to caves!


Top -Mouth of the second cave I went in later that day.
Bottom--Cute furry little bat.