# 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:** 176
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3504 "2025-01-06T16:17:58Z")
I went snorkeling at the Dapdap Marine Sanctuary in Bingag, Dauis, Bohol, Philippines. It features a large number of Giant Clams. Some of them are more than 3 feet long. It’s like being at a strip club- look but don’t touch. [Here is a link to video.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cpa2NHP_2_g) Close-ups start at 2:46. They have some surprising neon colors on the inside. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3505 "2025-01-07T12:09:46Z")
Most excellant! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3506 "2025-01-07T13:26:12Z")
Thanks! ---
**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:** [January 12, 2025, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3507 "2025-01-12T17:53:27Z")
Feisty little clownfish in the opening bits 🙂 [Tridacna spp.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tridacna)clams are popular in the saltwater aquarium hobby. I spent some time, years ago, in Tonga, running a fish collection station for the aquarium trade here in the US. It was illegal to export the clams, but one day out on the boat I snagged one to eat for lunch, and it hit me it would be worth $400 retail back here in the states. Many yards were decorated with giant clam shells. The colors are largely due to symbiotic algae present in the tissue. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2025, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3508 "2025-01-13T21:20:51Z")
Yesterday, in the gardens at Standen (about 30 miles south of London) I saw two daffodils _ **in flower** _. Not so very long 'til spring, now, j ---
**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:** [January 13, 2025, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3509 "2025-01-13T21:44:02Z")
On Pinel island earlier today (off the coast of St Martin) relaxing under a sea grape tree. This lil sugar bird kept me company. [![](https://i.imgur.com/sB8oUhN.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/sB8oUhN.jpeg) ---
**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:** [January 13, 2025, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3510 "2025-01-13T23:29:46Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > On Pinel island earlier today (off the coast of St Martin) relaxing under a sea grape tree. Also known as the [bananaquit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bananaquit), which is a name I’ve always found amusing 🙂. ---
**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:** [January 14, 2025, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3511 "2025-01-14T05:01:30Z")
Very sweet little birds. Their numbers dropped after Hurricane Irma, but they have rebounded nicely. We have a dish of sugar and a bowl of water on our balcony for them. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3512 "2025-01-14T05:07:54Z")
Today in nature I saw Mars appear from behind the Moon: [![](https://i.imgur.com/lfzElkg.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/lfzElkg.jpeg) ---
**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:** [January 14, 2025, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3513 "2025-01-14T12:40:33Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > We have a dish of sugar and a bowl of water on our balcony for them. Back before Irma there would be a dozen or more at any given time. [![](https://i.imgur.com/u33KLiL.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/u33KLiL.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3514 "2025-01-14T17:03:22Z")
Meanwhile here in the snowier than usual mid-Atlantic: Tufted titmouse [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54265305908_e6dcd548fb_b.jpg "20250109\_160726") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/31573076@N00/54265305908/) Carolina or Black-capped chickadee [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54265320319_ab0e03ec77_b.jpg "20250109\_160932") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/31573076@N00/54265320319/) ---
**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:** [January 14, 2025, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3515 "2025-01-14T17:13:44Z")
Meanwhile we are in the amazing Caribbean and I can’t shut off notifications from our bird feeder/camera. The tufted titmouses (titmice?) are gorging. [![](https://i.imgur.com/m0M5k0p.jpegder) ](https://i.imgur.com/m0M5k0p.jpegder) ---
**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:** [January 14, 2025, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3516 "2025-01-14T17:15:40Z")
[![](https://i.imgur.com/RKdEaYD.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/RKdEaYD.jpeg) Drunk as a skunk after too many bloodys for breakfast. Oh, and eggs Norwegian on the the Dutch side ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3517 "2025-01-14T19:06:33Z")
Turkey tail fungus and Bird’s nest fungus: [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54265604217_c2ec8ed089_b.jpg "Turkey tail") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/56821557@N06/54265604217/in/dateposted-public/) [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54265603857_69d59f1a38_b.jpg "Bird") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/56821557@N06/54265603857/in/dateposted-public/) ---
**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:** [January 14, 2025, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3518 "2025-01-14T19:40:01Z")
Pretty! ---
**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:** [January 15, 2025, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3519 "2025-01-15T14:53:57Z")
Saw this guy on a hike in Sint Maarten. [![](https://i.imgur.com/1uRavOr.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/1uRavOr.jpeg) ---
**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:** [January 15, 2025, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3520 "2025-01-15T15:43:27Z")
What is it? Looks like a big 'un, whatever you call it. ---
**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:** [January 20, 2025, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3521 "2025-01-20T21:27:12Z")
Two versions of the same photo. The original [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczP9O6x41IffRB7bIElG_6YI95dq2TbkMGbtvLhFUrL-eQaU08ZNWOSdj7mwNn2bKdQfEf-D-j7q8K6hmOl4JfbJ-n5fRgjzv09gBzYuGy2uEjoKeJg=w600-h315-p-k "New item by j") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/BWWFFwDegvdteaxh8) Actually, that looks better than I thought it would, but you need to click for the full photo. Here’s a crop of the original: [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczO3MDqwxU16tdezGPtt3XUsqsE8u3RwdmSNrLPhAFo8WdDKL8CXK3sOeFnfr7oDzZ2veG0NDpq9s1aUXRqP0DyApum1Or505nvQk4prric1nsYaa5I=w600-h315-p-k "New item by j") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/rMXknY1w61YaqMMP6) Typical - that one cuts the bird in question out. Click to see a cormorant. I took this last Thursday when I cycled past - rather striking, I thought - the tree is on the edge of a lake, and pretty much the tallest around. I’ve seen cormorants by a couple of local lakes recently, and I don’t recall seeing them before. So: interesting. I cycled past the same lake today and… cormorant in the tallest tree again. I guess they’re a fixture for now. I may go back that way again tomorrow to check. j ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3522 "2025-01-23T14:04:44Z")
Went snorkeling with Sea Turtles this week. [Link to video.](https://youtu.be/4xsyaGTfqtU) Near Balicasag Island, Bohol, Philippines. These turtles see humans almost every day so they are quite indifferent. You can get very close to them and they carry on as if you weren’t there. They range in size from 2.5 feet head to tail up to 5 feet. ---
**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:** [January 23, 2025, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3523 "2025-01-23T14:20:38Z")
That’s beautiful. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854.md?page=175) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854.md?page=177)