# Today in nature I saw **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 20, 2020, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854 "2020-07-20T18:22:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 105
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2023, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2083 "2023-03-07T00:35:13Z")
Horned grebe in non-breeding plumage. They just look like they shoot lasers from their eyes. [![](https://i.imgur.com/7ZpSE0p.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/7ZpSE0p.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2023, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2084 "2023-03-07T00:54:38Z")
[![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52731445273_21a7bc4334_b.jpg "Driveway ducks") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/zyada/52731445273/) This pair show up in my driveway whenever it floods for more than a day ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2023, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2085 "2023-03-07T01:09:26Z")
Heard, and then saw, sandhill cranes overhead heading north. I guess spring is coming! ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2023, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2086 "2023-03-07T15:14:38Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > > [@TRC4941](#): > > > > I love them. > > They are so smart! It’s fun to watch them and see how they respond to danger, potential food, etc. I’m in suburban Twin Cities, near the Minnesota river so we usually see a lot of birds and other wildlife. There was a crow in our yard that wasn’t able to fly very well. When he was hopping around, there were always three other crows with him. They must have been protecting him. I attempted to get close to see what was wrong with him, but his entourage would shoo him in another direction. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2087 "2023-03-09T21:41:39Z")
More corvid news - this morning, as we were having coffee in the kitchen, a jay landed on the patio outside the door and looked us up and down. It then hopped onto the lawn, poked about for a few moments, dug out an acorn, and flew up into a tree to enjoy the snack. To be clear, we’re talking Eurasian Jay: > **[Eurasian jay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_jay)** > > 33 (in eight groups) - see text > The Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius) is a species of passerine bird in the crow family Corvidae. It has pinkish brown plumage with a black stripe on each side of a whitish throat, a bright blue panel on the upper wing and a black tail. The Eurasian jay is a woodland bird that occurs over a vast region from western Europe and north-west Africa to the Indian subcontinent and further to the eastern seaboard of Asia and down into south-east Asia. Across this vast ... A damn handsome bird. Anyways, the tree was one in a little patch of woodland just over our garden fence, and he spent a while hanging out there. So it looks like we may have jays around this summer. They’re not rare, but they’re always nice to see. j ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2088 "2023-03-09T23:20:34Z")
That is a pretty bird. It’s funny that they don’t stand out in my memory of my many visits to the U.K. I suspect possibly because my ex was always drawing my attention to water birds and raptors. That’s my bad and my loss. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2089 "2023-03-10T01:20:51Z")
Today I saw two bees drinking water out of the bird bath. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. And Mrs. Wren has at least two eggs in her nest. We’ll find out if there’s a successful brood in a couple weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2090 "2023-03-10T04:40:24Z")
From an email from the office today: > **Today’s Shenanigans** > D. noticed a visitor today. She’s in the background ready to capture the baby in a waste basket. Don’t fret as it was set free after catching it in C’s office. [[Album] imgur.com ![](https://i.imgur.com/hwnNvK7.jpeg?fb "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a/DVJVajs) Also: On my walk today, as I waled up the beach, a bald eagle was doing circles above me, working its way up the beach. It seemed to be a small one. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2091 "2023-03-10T04:56:00Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > From an email from the office today: [Bewick’s wren](https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bewicks_Wren/overview). Remarkably variable song, a prime candidate for “huh, what was that?” moments. ETA: I at first posted that they were favorites of mine, but thinking about it I’m really fond of ALL wrens 😀. Cactus wrens are probably at the top of the list, but Bewick’s are up there. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2092 "2023-03-10T13:08:07Z")
Adorable! 😍 ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2093 "2023-03-10T23:21:02Z")
What a lovely bird. I hope you told it never to work in a corporate office. The crow I heard a few days ago isn’t the only one out there. Yesterday, the one was in a tree near me making calls and another one answered from a couple of blocks away. We’ve got about two weeks until hatching time at the eagle nest. I do hope the remaining egg is viable. We had snow there this morning and it slowly melted away during the day. More snow or rain coming tomorrow. I’m thinking it’s a tough job to be an eagle parent. There’s no message as to why we no longer have a camera at the falcon nesting site. Probably budget. 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2094 "2023-03-11T03:13:22Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > ETA: I at first posted that they were favorites of mine, but thinking about it I’m really fond of ALL wrens 😀. Cactus wrens are probably at the top of the list, but Bewick’s are up there. They are some of my favorites too. Ours are Carolina wrens and they are curious little things - gets them in trouble sometimes. We can’t leave the doors to anything open - not the house, the garage, the shed or even a car - because in the spring and summer you’re very likely to end up with a wren inside. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2095 "2023-03-11T20:42:53Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > There’s no message as to why we no longer have a camera at the falcon nesting site. Probably budget. Here’s something to fill the void for you. How about this for specialized? > **[Updated - Cathedral Peregrine Webcams - The Association of English Cathedrals](https://www.englishcathedrals.co.uk/latest-news/updated-cathedral-peregrine-webcams/)** > > Updated - all the live peregrine falcon webcams for cathedrals in 2023. We now have 12 cathedral with 12 live peregrine webcams all listed here. Fabulously weird or what? There are some errors with the links - for example, the link for Lincoln is a duplicate of Sheffield - but kudos even for the idea. j ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2096 "2023-03-11T21:25:26Z")
I saw a very fat squirrel when I was out with the dog this morning. I wondered if it was pregnant. We didn’t see many squirrels after the tree trimmers had finished with our complex. They’re baaaaaaaack. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2097 "2023-03-11T22:13:07Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > How about this for specialized? I like! Thanks for sharing. Spotted my first gull of the season today. A white bird on a snowy day. I feel sorry for the critter. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2023, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2098 "2023-03-13T12:41:22Z")
I got this picture of a tufted titmouse in our yard the other day. He’s a super cute little birdie, but seems bound and determined to smash his head against our windows. I’ve hung up a couple of birdhouses near the porch, but no takers yet. [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52744111207_99931dd32f_b.jpg "Tufted titmouse") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/45215582@N06/52744111207/) ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2023, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2099 "2023-03-13T19:15:16Z")
A melanistic variant of the common eastern gray squirrel [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52745680034_b1c25dc69b_b.jpg "PXL\_20230311\_203536899.MP") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/31573076@N00/52745680034/) ---
**Author:** ![merrick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58956e/32.png) [@merrick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/merrick)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2023, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2100 "2023-03-13T22:43:15Z")
Muntjac, on parkland north of Enfield. It stood and watched very tolerantly as I fumbled to get my phone out, fumbled to unlock it, fumbled to find the right app … and then purposefully stalked off into the undergrowth as I finally got the camera open. I think it’s the first time I’ve seen one inside the M25. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2023, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2101 "2023-03-14T11:57:27Z")
We have Grey Squirrels, many Black Grey Squirrels, Northern Flying Squirrels, Fox Squirrels, and these lil cuties. [![](https://i.imgur.com/CJTUFnj.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/CJTUFnj.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2023, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2102 "2023-03-14T12:00:15Z")
Our neighbor has a trail cam set up in her yard. A couple nights ago she got a picture of a black bear. We are now on heightened alert, bringing in our bird feeders at dusk and keeping the dogs leashed after dark. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854.md?page=104) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854.md?page=106)