# 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:** 197
**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:** [September 28, 2025, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3924 "2025-09-28T18:54:42Z")
Well, here are some more weird Provencale clouds. Photo from the top of the tower at the amphitheater in Arles. [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczN_lBzH7M6FHZPVMs79QMSPkle0MggtnsSIexHzFkFvY6ldNfZ2mR6rzNdbkKJtwZK67bcVLiWxy25QVNpEGHO1hVt-O-fMmVTExNAFLO1-eXr0GDA=w600-h315-p-k "New photo · Sunday, Sep 28 📸") ](https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipN4DF68HUFZoD0EX7x8vg0_yJ7wMVCAtqMyqxZEUg68hnrm2PhzZk0yi3SFGOu2ag?key=WW9aRVJTbWZIVVdNODRZRUZZYUthcnJpTEFDT3R3) You’re probably going to have to zoom in on the sky behind the church tower. Clouds forming (it appears) parallel lines, almost like the contrails of jets flying in formation. j ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2025, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3925 "2025-09-28T23:25:16Z")
I was walking to church this morning with my mother, and she mentioned that on the way home, she wanted to stop by her garden to harvest some beans, if the deer haven’t eaten them all. “Speaking of which”, I said, and pointed ahead of us. There, maybe 20 feet ahead of us on the edge of the sidewalk, was an eight-point buck. Unfortunately, neither of us thought to get out our cameras until it had sauntered to the far end of a vacant lot, so while I have a picture of him, it’s not a very good one. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2025, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3926 "2025-09-28T23:39:59Z")
Well, at least you were able to count the points… * * * Today, at Oxbow park: [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/dM6rdnh.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/dM6rdnh) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2025, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3927 "2025-09-28T23:41:26Z")
Wow, where is that? There are a bunch of Oxbow Parks in the US. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2025, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3928 "2025-09-28T23:49:05Z")
Durango, CO. ---
**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:** [September 29, 2025, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3929 "2025-09-29T19:45:53Z")
Fabulous! j ---
**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:** [September 29, 2025, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3930 "2025-09-29T19:56:53Z")
Long story short: forty two and a bit years ago I made my first attempt to spot flamingos in France. That was in Provence. A lot of places in France claim to have flamingos. I have wasted a lot of time searching for them over the years. Right now we are back in Provence for the first time in four decades. And here we are: [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczM2oUYUAqvP_KWLoa8Yin37EDqb7zS9vlJdHheRMX08YCVwWWzEOwRXqTL7w1LA7ROXIfqsUHYEl4P84d6wGFP9DWRUTiim-R2G1P9Y9tkwBDeOLCI=w600-h315-p-k "New photo · Monday, Sep 29 📸") ](https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipN95bfX1d0BrRzFDQUpgi-MjbDWa-OM5qGE6K0GUu-lASFrBtRO9fXbh0HyHsGV7Q?key=WUdfVWoyLXhJOTRRQW5pNE1VWUNMQW41M2lycjRn) I bet google crops the flamingos out of that. The day had two other firsts. Avocets on the same reserve; and, several times in several places, cattle egrets riding on the backs of Camargue horses. Pretty good day. j ETA: well done google photos ---
**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:** [September 30, 2025, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3931 "2025-09-30T02:09:48Z")
It rained in town last night, and I went for a ride on the “Million Dollar Highway” from Durango to Ouray, and my luck held, because the taller mountains got their first snow of the season. The trees were in fine form, too: Snow on Engineer Peak: [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/1jrxnaX.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/1jrxnaX) And the Needles: [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/Bjdfxv7.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/Bjdfxv7) Cabin in the mountains: [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/Lr4ul3v.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/Lr4ul3v) Road to Ouray: [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/Px9NUhZ.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/Px9NUhZ) Aspens: [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/dgNLmkJ.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/dgNLmkJ) In a real stroke of luck, I was able to ford S. Mineral Creek, and get in a good location to take a photo of this big guy: [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/Pm9PYSN.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/Pm9PYSN) ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3932 "2025-09-30T06:24:05Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > Avocets on the same reserve; and, several times in several places, cattle egrets riding on the backs of Camargue horses. Based on your mention of flamingos in France, I wondered if there were any in Switzerland. [They](https://www.vogelwarte.ch/en/birds-of-switzerland/greater-flamingo/) explicity mention,"The few wild birds that have been observed in Switzerland may have originated from the Camargue in France.” So I learned something today. Congrats on your success and thanks for sharing the picture. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3933 "2025-09-30T13:37:54Z")
Tremendous pictures, @beowulff! ---
**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:** [September 30, 2025, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3934 "2025-09-30T15:23:29Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > several times in several places, cattle egrets riding on the backs of Camargue horses. [Count Brass](https://stormbringer.fandom.com/wiki/Count_Brass) would be proud 😉. Sounds like a great trip - that one has always been on my bucket list. Some day, perhaps (pity my French is awful to the point of near worthlessness). > [@beowulff](#): > > I went for a ride on the “Million Dollar Highway” from Durango to Ouray Hmmm…clearly another place I need to visit. Those are spectacular. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3935 "2025-10-02T02:15:57Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > And the Needles: When I first saw that picture, I totally misparsed it. I thought I was looking at yellow wildflowers in amongst green grass in a mountain meadow. The sense of scale hit me pretty hard when I realized it. ---
**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:** [October 2, 2025, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3936 "2025-10-02T02:28:15Z")
Yeah, it’s quite the vista. That photo would look great at 4’x’8’ ---
**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:** [October 3, 2025, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3937 "2025-10-03T17:36:36Z")
Ribbon snake on my back porch. I hope he’s the same one I posted a month ago (post 3851). If so, he’s really thriving out there and eating well! 🥲 They grow up so fast… [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54830088085_2da89a8f46_b.jpg "Ribbon 2") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/45215582@N06/54830088085/) ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3938 "2025-10-03T23:22:53Z")
[[Album] imgur.com ![](https://i.imgur.com/m9ueozm.jpeg?fb "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a/M6jaj2B) Just interrupted my nap on the back porch. ---
**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:** [October 3, 2025, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3939 "2025-10-03T23:28:39Z")
Wow. How close is that? It’s a baby, right? ---
**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:** [October 3, 2025, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3940 "2025-10-03T23:54:56Z")
Cute! ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2025, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3941 "2025-10-04T01:34:42Z")
Yearling I would guess. It hung around looking at me for a couple of minutes or so before sauntering off. Probably about 15 feet away. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2025, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3942 "2025-10-04T02:04:12Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > If so, he’s really thriving out there and eating well! Judging by the shape of that bulge, I’d say it just reduced your local population of lizards by one 😉. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2025, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3943 "2025-10-05T00:04:24Z")
We got a lot of rain in town last night, so I decided to do a bit of off-roading, and took the Hermosa Park trail all the way across. It was beautiful and damp and quiet, and there was snow on the peaks: > **[DSC-3871-HDR hosted at ImgBB](https://ibb.co/tPLWDHfn)** > > Image DSC-3871-HDR hosted in ImgBB [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854.md?page=196) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854.md?page=198)