# 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:** 115
**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:** [May 8, 2023, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2283 "2023-05-08T19:49:09Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Shortly there was a male black-chinned feeding at it. Emphasis added. That was one of my very, very loose goals to try and get a decent photograph of this year (along with a calliope hummingbird)! Which probably won’t come to fruition - unexpected poor weather today killed this week’s planned attempt. They are both regular, but slightly uncommon spring migrants to the outskirts of my area. Did get a female in not awesome light and a poor angle, but at least those diagnostic white-tipped wings were visible. Did have a four migrant-flycatcher day though. Two Empidonax - [Pacific slope](https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pacific-slope_Flycatcher/overview), [Hammond’s](https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hammonds_Flycatcher/overview), and a Contopus - the [olive-sided](https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Olive-sided_Flycatcher/overview). I’m slowly getting better at empids, though that genus can still be a bitch to identify. Also our one regular migrant Myiarchus, the [ash-throated](https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ash-throated_Flycatcher/overview). Only got a decent picture of the last: [![](https://i.imgur.com/CL9IYEL.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/CL9IYEL.jpeg) ETA: Corrected genus for olive-sided. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2284 "2023-05-08T20:09:34Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > I am always amazed when hummers remember where the feeder was last summer. The hummers are always amazed that the humans remember where they stored the feeder for the winter and find it and fill it so quickly and they really appreciate it. Some humans are better at this than others… ---
**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:** [May 9, 2023, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2285 "2023-05-09T02:14:51Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Some humans are better at this than others… Um, yeah … ::makes note to cook up some nectar and hang feeder tomorrow:: ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2286 "2023-05-11T00:53:03Z")
It was finally warm and dry enough to have a pre-dawn ride. This morning I saw: 4 bunnies 1 fox And 2 deer. And now, you’ve got George Thorogood in your head, too. ---
**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:** [May 11, 2023, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2287 "2023-05-11T01:12:03Z")
I haven’t seen the girl since night before last I wanna get drunk, get her off of my mind 4 bunnies 1 fox And 2 deer. (John Lee Hooker) ---
**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:** [May 11, 2023, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2288 "2023-05-11T01:58:12Z")
I found out who has been eating my strawberries - a catbird. I put some netting over them yesterday and he came by and was trying to find a way to get in. ---
**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:** [May 11, 2023, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2289 "2023-05-11T04:07:11Z")
In the back yard today. [Raccoon.](https://imgur.com/a/HJCC4PD) I wish I could have gotten some footage when it came up to the catio door, but I had to go inside to retrieve my phone. ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2023, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2290 "2023-05-12T11:54:03Z")
A half an hour ago or so, while I was still lying in bed, I kept hearing a strange sound outside. It was a kind of whistle or whimper, followed by a grunt. I finally got up and looked out the window and saw a strange animal in our driveway. It looked like a small pig. Then I saw it was chasing another animal, which was obviously a raccoon. Then I realized the piglike animal was another raccoon, only it was missing its tail, which in the pre-dawn dimness made it look like a little pig. Piggy raccoon chased the other one around and around, all the while whimpering and grunting. They went around our driveway, across the street, through bushes, and finally took off up the sidewalk and disappeared into the darkness. I assume it was a male chasing a female, and he was urgently vocalizing. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2023, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2291 "2023-05-13T16:01:05Z")
I made a truly rare sighting this morning: A Canada lynx. I was gazing out the kitchen window over my sink as I always do while I am filling the kettle to make coffee. I spotted him (her?) taking a leisurely walk through the trees, heading for deeper forest behind my woodshed. At first I thought it was a small cougar (seen lots of those), but then noticed the bobbed tail. It was too large to be a bob cat. I got a really good look, though it was too far away to see the tufts on the ears. But in every visible respect, a lynx is what it was. I had another lynx cross my path while I was on a walk a few years ago. It was hurrying toward a stand of Doug firs and just crossed my path on the road not 10 feet in front of me. The friend I was walking with and I exchanged a look: “What the – ?” Then said in unison, “Lynx!” This sighting was like that, except I was alone and indoors. Sometimes I wish I had a camera built into my forehead! ---
**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:** [May 13, 2023, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2292 "2023-05-13T19:26:32Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > A Canada lynx. Wow! What a great sighting! ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2023, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2293 "2023-05-13T19:27:45Z")
It really was. 🙂 I’ll be grinning all day! ---
**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:** [May 13, 2023, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2294 "2023-05-13T19:58:02Z")
I was walking to our mail kiosk this morning, and the crows were going insane. They usually aren’t like that until they all “come home” at dusk. Then, two of my neighbors caught up with me and pointed to big old possum slinking along the building opposite us. Oh. ---
**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:** [May 18, 2023, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2295 "2023-05-18T19:32:31Z")
This is actually from a few days ago - been busy recently. We were waiting to be picked up by friends, and standing out on the drive, when Mrs T noticed something unusual in our hedge. I had heard the expression “to swarm” as applied to bees, and I guess I thought it meant to fly around a bit. Well, that’s not how honey bees swarm - click for the full picture (this is about a third of it): [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AJFCJaVj_0bJmohP8z-qfZECQazU3VP-OW2emjkTDPbmN8TrYx0TVndtr7lKG-TGxcfieeDg3pnbGxrUYX0qNJsIYnkjmIyLHGZfIxp4jMrYvR7TSZap1y0=w600-h315-p-k "New item by j") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/cz6h7fKK5nXW4xaq6) I suppose there was a bit more than a liter of bees, which must get you into the thousands. Our friends arrived, we got picked up, and from the car I called my friend E, who knows about such things. You need a bee keeper to rescue/remove them and put them in a hive - they (the bees) are rather sought after, in fact. Of course, she knew several (!), who would be called into action if the swarm was still there when we got back. A couple of hours later - and the swarm was gone. Mixed feelings about that. Do I want several thousand bees camped out in my yard? No. Would I have liked to see them rescued and removed to safety? Of course. I hope that’s what eventually happened. j ---
**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:** [May 19, 2023, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2296 "2023-05-19T02:55:48Z")
Yours was probably a temporary location as the swarm made its way to its new permanent site. A few years ago, we had a swarm in a cypress in our yard for a few hours until they moved on. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2297 "2023-05-19T17:58:46Z")
I saw a goldfinch! First time in my life. It was like a fat dot of lemon yellow sunshine, black hat and all. Sat nicely for me (I didn’t have my phone, or fancy camera) in all its bright yellow glory. ---
**Author:** ![Dogginit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogginit/32/16920_2.png) [@Dogginit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogginit)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2298 "2023-05-19T18:09:41Z")
We have had more goldfinches at our feeder this year than I’ve seen in the 15 years we’ve lived at our place. Counted probably 35 a couple days ago. The doves are there in droves, they’ve even been coming up onto our screened-in back porch. Stellar’s jays are rife, and the valley quail are making their appearances - probably won’t be long before we see the little puffballs accompanying the adult quail. Last year we got 3 hatches out of them. ---
**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:** [May 19, 2023, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2299 "2023-05-19T18:19:43Z")
There was a crow on a pine across the driveway yesterday, and a young squirrel romping along the top of the fence underneath. The crow was making threatening moves toward the squirrel. Was the crow protecting a nest? A tree (territory)? Or? ---
**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:** [May 19, 2023, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2300 "2023-05-19T18:24:59Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Was the crow protecting a nest? This time of year I’d say that would probably be the best guess. Squirrels will absolutely raid nests (they are omnivorous), much like crows themselves, so it’s an intelligent caution. ---
**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:** [May 19, 2023, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2301 "2023-05-19T18:27:32Z")
Thanks. That was my guess, but I also wondered if crows ate squirrels. I know crows will eat roadkill, but I don’t know if they’ll actually kill small mammals. ---
**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:** [May 19, 2023, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2302 "2023-05-19T19:16:28Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > I know crows will eat roadkill, but I don’t know if they’ll actually kill small mammals. They will, but small is the operative word. They would happily take a baby squirrel, but are unlikely to tackle anything as large as an adult unless it was already in rough shape. Ravens on the other hand will definitely kill and eat adult squirrels. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854.md?page=114) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854.md?page=116)