# 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:** 218
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2026, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4344 "2026-08-23T20:03:07Z")
Mrs Bullwinkle, less than 100 yards/meters from my campsite: [![](https://qsl.net/n9iwp/pics/moose1.JPG) ](https://qsl.net/n9iwp/pics/moose1.JPG) Brian ---
**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:** [August 24, 2026, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4345 "2026-08-24T14:00:33Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > The youngish Joro living in my youngish elephant ears. Actually, I realize this is a native “writing spider”, which is more unusual now. ---
**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:** [August 24, 2026, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4346 "2026-08-24T17:53:41Z")
We’ve got one like that in our yard. I just call it a “banana spider”, though I haven’t actually tried to identify it. She’s very determined to build a web across the path, so we have to be careful when walking not to break it with our face! ---
**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 4, 2026, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4347 "2026-09-04T19:29:53Z")
Thirty odd years ago we spent a day at Cuckmere Haven ( London, south til you hit the sea, right a bit) and … we saw little egrets. I can’t tell you how big a deal this was at the time. On the Monday I casually mentioned to a workmate, Jerry, who was a bit of a birder, that we has seen them. “Been to Chichester Harbour?”, he said (London, south til you hit the sea, left a bit). No, actually - so there were two places in the UK where you could see them. Today they’re a commonplace. But I mention that story because we’re on Chichester Harbour today. It’s a bay, not a harbour, and evidently (still) quite the place for little egrets. I think I may have posted pictures of this roost before, but it just gets bigger and bigger. [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczNnKzUK_99QhgY4Uy_uBkzlwUZ43MfzhkwYAG8qFDxBlLQCUEZyCOBdwlAy-3sJwzIGBDzX35etJMVV2wxnvTS_01iGML1CDTVgXZ3PSEKbBeP2LKc=w600-h315-p-k "New photo · Friday, Sep 4 📸") ](https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipN-VVai63kAHtB-cqGEXog6sTNoOj917YqoT8H-TJSSVYtd14HjkKcuDRkLISiDuQ?key=U2pyNFJrQTZsbV9yeHNDZlVjZzFkY0JLYTlSSWdR) [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczO2xbLpRWTM7Vnl95jkvKNUlbcwLTqhzoHQ6wA437_Xg9RgiH62Zn4zlqQOKtt6wIxuNYeGEmRIw9VLuzk_vlr8kHhXvVh6CcRgegjCbmCovUPKs_g=w600-h315-p-k "New photo · Friday, Sep 4 📸") ](https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO9jkxsU_wvpPhGdghDsM29PVJNzfCQMypgC6K5iTkFew1Qt0tRWUW8L9vaJ75dKA?key=SHNsOXk2TWZMSC1qVFp1Tk9tS1ZUWE1kcEp0bi1n) We think somewhere around a hundred birds. Certainly the biggest we’ve seen. 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 4, 2026, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4348 "2026-09-04T19:35:25Z")
Goodness, that was a complicated post on a phone. This is simple: a family of swans. [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczMJTtRah7b8ISO8BqFnPiJ45SXo4h0ZawVOjmDBqaLS-oB9hAVYckme1YglD1IO0D61ULr-YO9bVK9r7oWZ0RkM_j_fwrtZm_Of_MS_WsHXqdwO0Ec=w600-h315-p-k "New photo · Friday, Sep 4 📸") ](https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipM12X-SfAIy3rTcjbQ9Nte38OUgsSBARlMMqZRPDh-6C0XI0_ZHKOWXSaOJbIDVzQ?key=SVBERWVxdFhOZFlOWEQxaG5mSFF0a2kzY1Q1N2h3) j ETA : brutal crop. Click thru for the full image ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2026, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4349 "2026-09-08T15:30:02Z")
This guy crawled out of the bushes when I was watering today. I think it may want to re-think its choice of color. [![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczNa3xEtKyxNwdgCXnoDNmj6rXoZFfTPH-r2e02V7OIqApXNmimCWd8Cx_GN4DGUxyt1cbjzSadj2lfvVCxclxDJE5cQsbNo8RP8fNhvVApEczmcQ35wkf9KYCPrDpsVhDoBpEBUFmfqjHUm3UBHxGjpDw=w1274-h795-s-no?authuser=0) ](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczNa3xEtKyxNwdgCXnoDNmj6rXoZFfTPH-r2e02V7OIqApXNmimCWd8Cx_GN4DGUxyt1cbjzSadj2lfvVCxclxDJE5cQsbNo8RP8fNhvVApEczmcQ35wkf9KYCPrDpsVhDoBpEBUFmfqjHUm3UBHxGjpDw=w1274-h795-s-no?authuser=0) ---
**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:** [September 8, 2026, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4350 "2026-09-08T16:47:42Z")
That is a beautiful one! And the color will be perfect in a few days, if she survives that long. They usually die anyway after depositing the **[ootheca](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ootheca)** around this time of the year in my region. This one I saw in october two years ago: [![](https://i.imgur.com/BKb5BBs.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/BKb5BBs.jpeg) Comparing both, yours has bigger eyes, so she could be a he. ---
**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 8, 2026, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4351 "2026-09-08T17:44:48Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > I think it may want to re-think its choice of color. She certainly should. But that hue against dark green with the water droplets makes for absolutely stunning photos 🙂. The broad, heavy abdomen with wings not extending past usually indicates a female. ---
**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:** [September 8, 2026, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4352 "2026-09-08T18:06:35Z")
Lovely swans, @Treppenwitz! ---
**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:** [September 8, 2026, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4353 "2026-09-08T18:47:34Z")
It’s been hot lately, so I was sleeping with my sliding door open. Last night, there was an especially loud owl. I _wanted_ to see it, but when I got up and stepped out onto my balcony I couldn’t see it. Once I went back in I didn’t hear it anymore. Guess I caused it to either shut up or move on. ---
**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 8, 2026, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4354 "2026-09-08T21:24:44Z")
We’re listening to owls right now. We’re on a holiday camp (ish) in the north of Brittany, and it’s pretty rural. Nice to hear in the evening. Incidentally, there are a lot of lakes here, and we watched a coypu swimming earlier this evening. @Dung_Beetle, those swans are super protective of the kids. They flat-out attacked us when we were there in June. This visit they were a serious obstacle on the beach. We’re old and wise - we waited for another couple to attract their ire and then scooted around behind their backs. j ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4355 "2026-09-10T21:41:37Z")
I ran into some Sooty Grouse on the Taft Point Trail in Yosemite this morning: [![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczNUlYxofTGqI4_fZkKavZ-fZRbP3gceU63QIwrAPllTFJJ8dtx2h9IXr3HtRnf-6Oi2IsJSbyMfs6XTXjOQUUJcu5ozumty0xHjw5F12y1t508f03TYZf1FuO2Tng7-x90aSYDUbRdBHbrj_Z4RFPdtgA=w1920-h639-s-no?authuser=0) ](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczNUlYxofTGqI4_fZkKavZ-fZRbP3gceU63QIwrAPllTFJJ8dtx2h9IXr3HtRnf-6Oi2IsJSbyMfs6XTXjOQUUJcu5ozumty0xHjw5F12y1t508f03TYZf1FuO2Tng7-x90aSYDUbRdBHbrj_Z4RFPdtgA=w1920-h639-s-no?authuser=0) ---
**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:** [September 12, 2026, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4356 "2026-09-12T01:34:24Z")
Holy camouflage Batman! Nice shots! ---
**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 12, 2026, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4357 "2026-09-12T20:51:12Z")
We’re currently in the Vendee in western France. This evening, shortly after sunset, with cloudless skies and overlooking the Atlantic, we watched Venus setting. That’s a first. j ---
**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:** [September 12, 2026, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4358 "2026-09-12T22:31:39Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > family of swans I love how the youngsters are just showing little awkward tufts of “grown-up!” white feathers. Ah, puberty. ---
**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 13, 2026, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4359 "2026-09-13T21:47:54Z")
Today, here in the Vendee, i saw clouds unlike any I have seen before. [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczPK-4AQCYKUgYzMNxKPsIkkPWtRM44Ka3KMj_wMUIhlL4N64Bee3z4rsFv83i7VPsLkakMN3AT04QixCs1M0pEFCSyGxPg53x4tC6zlwnHPkPledDM=w600-h315-p-k "New photo · Sunday, Sep 13 📸") ](https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOxZlv1HUy-Jrost3Hqd8I1_BklE_MqmGS8KCC6fxz7sVe1e-vSepE1Z1mg4_9_FA?key=YTFIT0hDUURzd0tPNy1XUU5LQTF3VzBHdW1MWXJB) The “vertical” I assume is a contrail. The “horizontals”, I have no idea. j Any cloudologists around? ---
**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 14, 2026, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4360 "2026-09-14T20:01:50Z")
The moon and Venus setting into the Atlantic. [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczMbEajCWRReuM-CAaJWL5ibCGgY5x4Jn8ByxGS9CtZpyZ97Zfp7ASwtdLudtOU1VJSk_rpoQHX0jAj85EH8iYAbFdlZyxfGsKfP6IjAjwhpUNXrbHo=w600-h315-p-k "New photo · Monday, Sep 14 📸") ](https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMh1uWtOcFAAfl7fF56vSpcXJsbq1zMpLBAKXLqgposi_PWJdNC3q9jNEN_z4YAxg?key=ZDhIc1V3dm5hbU1sc0NFMXdIOFNHc2p4cmw0UmNB) j ---
**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 14, 2026, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4361 "2026-09-14T21:42:15Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > The moon and Venus setting into the Atlantic. Nice. Venus looks HUGE in that light. ---
**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:** [September 15, 2026, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4362 "2026-09-15T22:34:53Z")
Tonight’s wild turkey family reunion: [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/56lWUXn.jpeg "Tuesday Turkey parade!") ](https://imgur.com/gallery/tuesday-turkey-parade-sWcb8Pv#56lWUXn) ---
**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:** [September 15, 2026, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4363 "2026-09-15T22:36:00Z")
The one on top of the fence … jeebus, they are awkward flyers. I mean, she got up there, but I hope it was worth the struggle. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854.md?page=217) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854.md?page=219)