I went out at night on October 31st at 9:00pm (which is pitch black) and stayed there until 9:30ish. I’ve never been out here this late because I’ve had no reason to be. I chose this time of day, so I could see what happens when I’m not normally here. During this time of year, I’ve been out here as early as 5:00am and at that point the hasn’t started to peak out yet, but it doesn’t waste much time to get there.

It was pretty cold according to my phone it was 36°F. There wasn’t any wind, so that was a blessing. I had three layers on, so the cold didn’t really bother me. Since there was a full moon, I almost didn’t need my light. The moon casts multiple shadows all around me. Looking up at the sky I noticed something flying around up there and then I hear some type of chirping. I get a good look at what’s flying up there when I turn my light off and use the natural light and I realize it’s a bat. I felt a shift in my alertness as fear tries to climb up my spine. I have an illogical fear of bats for those of you who don’t know me. I make a deal in my head if they stay up there then I won’t end this sit-spot early. They keep their end of the bargain as I focus on the branches that are cracking and breaking to the north. I shined my light towards the noise only to be disappointed whatever it is it doesn’t like light and is keeping its distance. When I left my sit-spot I startled a young doe. She trotted away from me, but once she was far enough to suit her she started back towards me. Once she had moved passed me, I started to follow her which she was fine with until I got too close to which she trotted off again. I could still she her, but I decided to leave her alone. I probably won’t do this again just because I will won’t have the time and I’d like to keep my distance from bats.

This session was very different because my eyesight was much more limited and even more so because my headlamp was showing my breath causing me to have to look through a fog in the dark. I think the last session was much prettier than this one because I got to watch everything transition and I could see so much more. I was definitely more alert in during this session just because my eyesight was limited to the beam that my light would cast. I did not encounter the bats because there was still too much sunlight for them to wake up and come out.

 

The circled area is the doe its pretty hard to see without zooming in on the picture.