# 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:** 209
**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:** [June 8, 2026, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4164 "2026-06-08T07:15:22Z")
Well it is has been a reasonably decent spring. Still looking for a few things, but a lot of nice days out. A couple of Brown-headed Cowbirds in a bowing contest. Very male-driven displays. They tone it down with the females as they prefer more modest displays. But two males go all out. I like the grim expression of the male on right - he’s not intimidated! [![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczNOPeTjDV5D830M_MYk_VT6dtdGjSpTMyNzjVh2L7fXheQQYn4Ew1Bsjp3z2V8qK_RKZlWBwvCZ-4qRdsS4MQNc74FFV1qyfB2hoTld1XsKAFo8NBtNN5YRz7JYr3oekG7uUgysqxDPQHj2LIyyhIQK=w1559-h877-s-no) ](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczNOPeTjDV5D830M_MYk_VT6dtdGjSpTMyNzjVh2L7fXheQQYn4Ew1Bsjp3z2V8qK_RKZlWBwvCZ-4qRdsS4MQNc74FFV1qyfB2hoTld1XsKAFo8NBtNN5YRz7JYr3oekG7uUgysqxDPQHj2LIyyhIQK=w1559-h877-s-no) A migrant Wilson’s Warbler fledgling: [![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczOhqKryoCPfIzEBl17YkFwHfmJDE1REekMwyJl37pC_LB18bWivz8WMa-p0skGC_gwQyMbqV9Dg9y7gn06yhxr-IuCHWeGjT1vk4xQwiqI-hkB3zMqI_AXX-r_qVhb8mBx5UaO4_nOHP5g1B46NoosN=w1559-h877-s-no) ](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczOhqKryoCPfIzEBl17YkFwHfmJDE1REekMwyJl37pC_LB18bWivz8WMa-p0skGC_gwQyMbqV9Dg9y7gn06yhxr-IuCHWeGjT1vk4xQwiqI-hkB3zMqI_AXX-r_qVhb8mBx5UaO4_nOHP5g1B46NoosN=w1559-h877-s-no) Wilson’s Warbler, proud dad: [![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczP7hRcS7qHyIA9dzw7wOLVHiPhiOOXlFD27U-eouFC0PquZjumbfWLS8g-cwAaLPemjTLcLmdGEzQlT2NblG3I5PkpgeEwEQrnEhlpD3hXqzshLf3qljA_akIgkz4P-eNynwPivbWN6vmqJUJhwotxR=w1559-h877-s-no) ](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczP7hRcS7qHyIA9dzw7wOLVHiPhiOOXlFD27U-eouFC0PquZjumbfWLS8g-cwAaLPemjTLcLmdGEzQlT2NblG3I5PkpgeEwEQrnEhlpD3hXqzshLf3qljA_akIgkz4P-eNynwPivbWN6vmqJUJhwotxR=w1559-h877-s-no) A resident Spotted Towhee fledgling. I like that big beak - like a puppy with huge paws: [![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczP3zZGwOPYBuH993HTVeVyWm3M27onc1TXtwZxCk6s7fRrQLU3v_SFCgqRpaUBkeCMen4qphm9FH61lbyivEWWt5cvCeW0HeOtlbf3MCsSHlzAaXACwO9xUIlCaMx_FLf6e-9lqHHZMzIuGi71WLdbQ=w1559-h877-s-no) ](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczP3zZGwOPYBuH993HTVeVyWm3M27onc1TXtwZxCk6s7fRrQLU3v_SFCgqRpaUBkeCMen4qphm9FH61lbyivEWWt5cvCeW0HeOtlbf3MCsSHlzAaXACwO9xUIlCaMx_FLf6e-9lqHHZMzIuGi71WLdbQ=w1559-h877-s-no) Proud parent Spotted Towhee: [![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczOFI-gElzyfvbQilR2sdSz2sPlZAJ7_V36LHWuZfNyQYouGqwmr02Af_Z2NiLsGfTG0YhtlZ1vkBo684z0ADNLo4JbqB3S4q8-QQ80dOXqb42XJDJhh5IQJQQFkC6z3h0WY4LThlK2tpIdaE4kDL4SY=w1559-h877-s-no) ](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczOFI-gElzyfvbQilR2sdSz2sPlZAJ7_V36LHWuZfNyQYouGqwmr02Af_Z2NiLsGfTG0YhtlZ1vkBo684z0ADNLo4JbqB3S4q8-QQ80dOXqb42XJDJhh5IQJQQFkC6z3h0WY4LThlK2tpIdaE4kDL4SY=w1559-h877-s-no) Bit of convergent coloration. A quite unrelated migrant male Black-headed Grosbeak. Completely different habits - towhees in the underbrush on the ground, grosbeaks high in trees, but same partial-shade adapted camouflage: [![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczOhlq7b4YDmWt2XX5lYKhpANk0XW-1CH9OgRpXponq4GlQ47u_W62yjiB-o21EHhX71WrbxfeySKHhmcxy8F8TPAapeGEaExjC4v_3QAzX15w33HNzyWdZh7ZDFaGsrkHnIyGU9F8g14g7XyxpkTaMQ=w1559-h877-s-no) ](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczOhlq7b4YDmWt2XX5lYKhpANk0XW-1CH9OgRpXponq4GlQ47u_W62yjiB-o21EHhX71WrbxfeySKHhmcxy8F8TPAapeGEaExjC4v_3QAzX15w33HNzyWdZh7ZDFaGsrkHnIyGU9F8g14g7XyxpkTaMQ=w1559-h877-s-no) Speaking of color, a migrant male Tree Swallow broke my printer logic. It usually does a good job for a non-photo-specialized printer. But I got this guy on a bright day, but shaded by a shrub so the normal high gloss iridescence was toned down and you can see just how blue they are. My printer, which did just fine with a Western Bluebird, shrieked at the deep swallow blue and completely botched the color balance. Resident Western Bluebird for comparison: [![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczMBfKDDRgUQ_hbxog9G4OoyqzmoUy3NJe7H7vVYOZIvKiWillJg2Q9tCm6Mk8OpqmUVAZWBxaZN5xTu5L7v2W4Vzby4bJjzOuZPQK5e8pPsKTZ4nLh9W9stQdnmBdA5PG0gdYWi5YJfwzTRrCm2BZgv=w1559-h877-s-no) ](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczMBfKDDRgUQ_hbxog9G4OoyqzmoUy3NJe7H7vVYOZIvKiWillJg2Q9tCm6Mk8OpqmUVAZWBxaZN5xTu5L7v2W4Vzby4bJjzOuZPQK5e8pPsKTZ4nLh9W9stQdnmBdA5PG0gdYWi5YJfwzTRrCm2BZgv=w1559-h877-s-no) Tree Swallow: [![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczPJE_hpnqcKZjxho940C-6PXFDB822CBpbEv1-k1lVpD7hWzpFwZ6n-dfj0tuL-BrveUEW1d8YPxP6J__FsgSIHy199jvH6DGK8jnuhAKBeJftPLVOnR9o0jpcZXbGSFugLFpHCuXfjP1wDxJppp9e3=w1559-h877-s-no) ](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczPJE_hpnqcKZjxho940C-6PXFDB822CBpbEv1-k1lVpD7hWzpFwZ6n-dfj0tuL-BrveUEW1d8YPxP6J__FsgSIHy199jvH6DGK8jnuhAKBeJftPLVOnR9o0jpcZXbGSFugLFpHCuXfjP1wDxJppp9e3=w1559-h877-s-no) A migrant Ash-throated Flycatcher with a Goldenrod Spider snack: [![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczOjgmlSjsb_XR22y_gf35KSkxN_X-2zU3mzi5i_QVkpDQ71MMIIXOCzIRy91Xw69JtbfT-QF5IhpZpfRv-ahUnfbvTI5q_RNN3j2SgVdQ2vRatSaANdudSRZ0if24YBNVNFPKxNNM_wKQbFQZ7-WKs7=w1559-h877-s-no) ](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczOjgmlSjsb_XR22y_gf35KSkxN_X-2zU3mzi5i_QVkpDQ71MMIIXOCzIRy91Xw69JtbfT-QF5IhpZpfRv-ahUnfbvTI5q_RNN3j2SgVdQ2vRatSaANdudSRZ0if24YBNVNFPKxNNM_wKQbFQZ7-WKs7=w1559-h877-s-no) Another migrant the Western Flycatcher (previously the Pacific-slope Flycatcher), the only “easy” Empid flycatcher to identify ([humorous chart](https://richditch.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/empidonax-flycatchers.jpg?w=584)): [![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczOsc9qgnXcBZF5v7HcUMxc15B5HvCDuOlCoEoRpc4m0k-TgimtJZA-nX6lU58F4gjU8rjZiOSzL6wIJVnGCaTMSj1CAisKI6HIHB-aRFx7jMRWdPSAMYE3GHDXc2KNAriJUV33yl70UB3kSeTiYG9XM=w1559-h877-s-no) ](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczOsc9qgnXcBZF5v7HcUMxc15B5HvCDuOlCoEoRpc4m0k-TgimtJZA-nX6lU58F4gjU8rjZiOSzL6wIJVnGCaTMSj1CAisKI6HIHB-aRFx7jMRWdPSAMYE3GHDXc2KNAriJUV33yl70UB3kSeTiYG9XM=w1559-h877-s-no) A migrant Warbling Vireo on the prowl: [![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczOQwtHpqZLkSyTepD611gaWBO9ienA4T4qJ_dsFLUk6IOXxh3Qh1EWxscVQrRjYoe6fbwWDBFtJEPVasClLIJLbvXB9yjY6pnGacbHryQ6-nbEox8hAjdDZUaXTpl6ec0DJ9G3SG11iWni9TYz91Qca=w1559-h877-s-no) ](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczOQwtHpqZLkSyTepD611gaWBO9ienA4T4qJ_dsFLUk6IOXxh3Qh1EWxscVQrRjYoe6fbwWDBFtJEPVasClLIJLbvXB9yjY6pnGacbHryQ6-nbEox8hAjdDZUaXTpl6ec0DJ9G3SG11iWni9TYz91Qca=w1559-h877-s-no) A resident Hutton’s Vireo on the prowl (my favorite picture, because of the illuminated eye) and with lunch (another bird-watchers bane, often mistaken for Ruby-crowned Kinglets): [![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczMhbzQ14tudWI7CAAfOKW6rIYPQFFJorIoxg7GHoJnBTFPd-9Mtsz5L485OyKcciJTwaQmzdAXBhcIhCo9bMwpz3cfBT0jSJ-Ed0cvHK-JlvaTqYXKTWRkw1P5MLHEBj8TNq8X_Qxywk_0IwOl4LrBS=w1559-h877-s-no) ](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczMhbzQ14tudWI7CAAfOKW6rIYPQFFJorIoxg7GHoJnBTFPd-9Mtsz5L485OyKcciJTwaQmzdAXBhcIhCo9bMwpz3cfBT0jSJ-Ed0cvHK-JlvaTqYXKTWRkw1P5MLHEBj8TNq8X_Qxywk_0IwOl4LrBS=w1559-h877-s-no) [![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczP6Ugkx-bfbzIX6rlTssCXzEIXiPF-wwcFF6cFtsCLAGc-xwDyr4y8xD1W3jVcbkReRfSg9OyKDIetEKW-l_4fe3dVvozvLMgDcVwwksTVXeEDBLSO22wa79KF-wOOXyC1bE1WQkaQDGZDcCu9PypUE=w1559-h877-s-no) ](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczP6Ugkx-bfbzIX6rlTssCXzEIXiPF-wwcFF6cFtsCLAGc-xwDyr4y8xD1W3jVcbkReRfSg9OyKDIetEKW-l_4fe3dVvozvLMgDcVwwksTVXeEDBLSO22wa79KF-wOOXyC1bE1WQkaQDGZDcCu9PypUE=w1559-h877-s-no) Finally, the cutest babies of them all. A Koch’s Wolf Spider with babies on board: [![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczPLFHNMugyqaKqod4z41YqPgfyBXLCj6Ca1rRcz2fSUjWsI4W-5yYB6T4xvQbLumSTQ2uLh08yBuCMiJqHtyQcub3Eo1FlC3nOiTF-pQ_d3C4s48Vazq9VrAcn6h7B6vhkYz0_y13d2TCrssmHNSLZW=w1559-h877-s-no) ](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczPLFHNMugyqaKqod4z41YqPgfyBXLCj6Ca1rRcz2fSUjWsI4W-5yYB6T4xvQbLumSTQ2uLh08yBuCMiJqHtyQcub3Eo1FlC3nOiTF-pQ_d3C4s48Vazq9VrAcn6h7B6vhkYz0_y13d2TCrssmHNSLZW=w1559-h877-s-no) ---
**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:** [June 8, 2026, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4165 "2026-06-08T07:58:23Z")
Those are magnificent images! Meanwhile, in Europe, we have bird baby season. The ducks have five chicks: [![](https://i.ibb.co/GvssyNck/DSCF0264.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/GvssyNck/DSCF0264.jpg) The crane only one, but what a nice one! [![](https://i.ibb.co/zTZmqS3r/DSCF0568.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/zTZmqS3r/DSCF0568.jpg) [![](https://i.ibb.co/mCqZqvZp/DSCF0567.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/mCqZqvZp/DSCF0567.jpg) Here the proud parent stands about three feet tall, almost out of the frame: [![](https://i.ibb.co/D3fc14M/DSCF0566.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/D3fc14M/DSCF0566.jpg) ---
**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:** [June 8, 2026, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4166 "2026-06-08T13:47:27Z")
Wonderful pics! I’d love to see that baby towhee with its mouth open - maw, indeed. The tree swallow is indeed very, very blue. ---
**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:** [June 8, 2026, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4167 "2026-06-08T13:48:33Z")
Where is this, if you don’t mind saying? I don’t think I’ve ever seen water birds tooling around in a forest before (except on TV). ---
**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:** [June 8, 2026, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4168 "2026-06-08T14:07:45Z")
This is 30 km South of Berlin, Germany. It is our Erlenbruchwald about which I have posted a lot in this thread started by **Treppenwitz** : > [@Specialized Habitats And Microenvironments](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specialized-habitats-and-microenvironments/948150/68): > > By graceful invitation from Treppenwitz, I will contribute to this thread, starting now with a copy and paste from another thread, because I am lazy. That is what I wrote over the other thread with the title “Today in Nature I Saw”: But what I saw today in nature? I will reveal a secret here: My wife and me have just bought a swamp. Really, not kidding, 1.34 acres of bog, pure morass. The correct term for that kind of marsh in German is [Erlenbruchwald](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruchwald#Erlenbr%C3%BCche) (link to German Wikipedia). A moor where [a…](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alnus_glutinosa) There is a lot to scroll, many pictures and anecdotes / stories. Feel free to ask if you have a question. ETA: > [@romansperson](#): > > I don’t think I’ve ever seen water birds tooling around in a forest before (except on TV). Well, you can see the ducks, they are quite confident around humans. The crane and the other animals? No chance. Only the motion activated camera gets them. That is why the shots are all of the same spot, that was the place I put the device this week. Good spot! Many animals. ---
**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:** [June 8, 2026, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4169 "2026-06-08T14:59:31Z")
I just walked down the stairs and a large black bear was on our back deck, which is one floor up from the ground. Just staring in the door. My wife and I started yelling and it did not seem to care. I was worried it was going to try and break in our flimsy sliding doors but it finally sauntered over to the side and shimmied down a deck post, climbed over the neighbor’s fence and disappeared into their yard. I fear this bear is likely doomed because it has so little fear. ---
**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:** [June 8, 2026, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4170 "2026-06-08T16:33:43Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Here the proud parent stands about three feet tall, almost out of the frame Very nice crane. Had to look it up as I don’t know that one and was tickled to see that it’s scientific name is Grus grus aka ‘Crane crane’ in Latin 🙂. ---
**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:** [June 8, 2026, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4171 "2026-06-08T16:39:19Z")
Yes! That is the original crane Linnaeus used to define cranes as cranes. And it is also the most common one in Europe by far. ---
**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:** [June 8, 2026, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4172 "2026-06-08T17:32:36Z")
The Larkspurs I planted are so purple they are iridescent: [![](https://i.postimg.cc/65TJHfJv/IMG-4603.jpg) ](https://i.postimg.cc/65TJHfJv/IMG-4603.jpg) ---
**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:** [June 8, 2026, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4173 "2026-06-08T22:24:16Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Well it is has been a reasonably decent spring. Quite the spring! Fabulous photos - just….. Wow! j ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4174 "2026-06-08T23:27:38Z")
Looking at some mushrooms today and saw one that instead of simply wilting seems to have exploded. It wasn’t until looking at the photos later that I noticed the ant, but it looks pretty dead. Must have been some event. [![](https://i.ibb.co/G4vnPDTF/IMG-20260608-131147796-HDR.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/G4vnPDTF/IMG-20260608-131147796-HDR.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2026, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4175 "2026-06-09T01:17:36Z")
In the years since I last had elephant ears I had forgotten that each new leaf comes out of the back of the petiole of the previous leaf, facing the opposite direction. Here’s my new plant yesterday and today (and 4 days after the previous post I made) [![](https://i.ibb.co/3yDTQ7MJ/Elephant-ears-20260607-184149879.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/3yDTQ7MJ/Elephant-ears-20260607-184149879.jpg) [![](https://i.ibb.co/mCRKZ3vH/Elephant-ears-20260608-130726998.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/mCRKZ3vH/Elephant-ears-20260608-130726998.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2026, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4176 "2026-06-09T20:29:26Z")
[![](https://i.ibb.co/yFmDddxQ/IMG-20260609-115204771-Copy.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/yFmDddxQ/IMG-20260609-115204771-Copy.jpg) [![](https://i.ibb.co/NnJjkGs7/IMG-20260609-115355425-Copy.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/NnJjkGs7/IMG-20260609-115355425-Copy.jpg) [![](https://i.ibb.co/jvswqLVZ/IMG-20260609-115442219-Copy.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/jvswqLVZ/IMG-20260609-115442219-Copy.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2026, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4177 "2026-06-09T21:25:07Z")
Fly agaric ? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2026, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4178 "2026-06-09T21:29:08Z")
Probably. I’m no expert. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2026, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4179 "2026-06-09T21:29:31Z")
Today I walked by a nearby pond and saw a Grey Heron, a Canadian Goose and some ducks hanging out in close proximity. A few feet away I saw a mother duck with 9 babies! Flocking together [![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/1908e664-aa08-4016-82b0-118d174f85d6_l.jpg) ](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/1908e664-aa08-4016-82b0-118d174f85d6_l.jpg) Mother with ducklings: [![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/4f0563e2-d6e4-43de-822b-d775bc8d5efb_l.jpg) ](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/4f0563e2-d6e4-43de-822b-d775bc8d5efb_l.jpg) (First time I wasn’t able to load pics) ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2026, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4180 "2026-06-09T21:42:41Z")
Does anyone have trouble with the above links? ---
**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:** [June 9, 2026, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4181 "2026-06-09T21:43:43Z")
I do. ---
**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:** [June 9, 2026, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4182 "2026-06-09T21:45:58Z")
[Moderating] I think I fixed them? There was a needless / at the end for some reason. ---
**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:** [June 9, 2026, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4183 "2026-06-09T21:52:16Z")
Aww, beautiful. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854.md?page=208) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854.md?page=210)