# 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:** 81
**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 9, 2022, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/1602 "2022-06-09T19:02:58Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > I’ve read that red shoulder hawk males are smaller than the females and this bird, despite the stately appearance, is quite small. I had a different hawk last year that was maybe a 1/3 to 1/2 larger, so I’m guessing that one was a female. Yes, that’s [standard for most raptors](https://web.stanford.edu/group/stanfordbirds/text/essays/Size_and_Sex.html) to varying degrees. Though individual variation does come into play, I suspect your sexing is probably spot on if the discrepancy is that large. ---
**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 9, 2022, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/1603 "2022-06-09T19:04:03Z")
I know I promised no more goose crèches, but this was so cool. You really need to see this on a big screen. At the lake in our local park, as we move towards dusk. On somewhat of a promontory, protected by open water behind, and with three guards posted, standing left, right and centre. Within the crèche, family business continues as usual. [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JFt7X7N4uhdwNQ-lxTDWOLfB8KZmK22L49USaEjemiTltDyhOsyBgKW_GFlPkoIZAAkrTzJRmBMy7mmQB7FPIMSj55lLeDR7yLYWferEoAfVlojeeKQLVfCBvSH-gxfGiJT9y1JYA=w600-h315-p-k "New item by j") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/deNRbNifamHYR2y69) The guards were remarkable - just stood there, did not move a muscle, stared at us. Wow. 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:** [June 9, 2022, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/1604 "2022-06-09T19:07:40Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > On somewhat of a promontory, protected by open water behind, and with three guards posted, standing left, right and centre. > > The guards were remarkable - just stood there, did not move a muscle, stared at us. That goose military academy certainly turns out some well-trained and disciplined graduates! ---
**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 9, 2022, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/1605 "2022-06-09T19:09:41Z")
Man, it was like facing a prison guard with his cap peak pulled down to his nose. You could feel the physical threat. j ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2022, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/1606 "2022-06-11T17:22:39Z")
Aw lookit the woody so cute those fat cheeks [https://i.ibb.co/NysSVQy/99-A6-A228-3-C4-A-4-B61-873-B-B78-F408-F697-B.jpg](https://i.ibb.co/NysSVQy/99-A6-A228-3-C4-A-4-B61-873-B-B78-F408-F697-B.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2022, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/1607 "2022-06-12T02:54:49Z")
“Chuck chuck cho chuck, banana fana fo f\*ck, me my mo muck. Chuuu-uck!” ---
**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 12, 2022, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/1608 "2022-06-12T21:28:22Z")
Today we took a trip out to the RHS [Royal Horticultural Society] Garden Wisley > **[RHS Garden Wisley](https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley)** > > The Equinox Borders at RHS Garden Wisley are at their peak in autumn. As they say of themselves: > Wisley is one of the world’s great gardens, packed with horticultural inspiration. It’s huge, and it serves many functions - its orchards, for example, are used to preserve all manner of varieties of fruit trees. It would be tough for a place that size to keep nature out; and of course they don’t try. They have numerous areas set aside to actively encourage wildlife. We saw a peacock butterfly; a huge newt in one of the ponds (swimming breaststroke, actually; but newt identification is way above my pay grade, so I’ll leave it at that). In the aforementioned orchards we watched woodpeckers working the apple tree trunks (which were covered in moss and presumably a source of insects.) And as we looked down the rows of apple trees we saw this guy: [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ABLVV85ACS69uPCZHeFWCN9-KwB9xfGzid0sudP82s4WkM-zpc9l5vvF9I1AgjKvQ-iYhNI4RPPYV9IMrYUS3Mf6FV8Yg8j5Qdrx6KmvctcXuxC3qhzL9Mc=w600-h315-p-k "New item by j") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/tRsMVZ7SmW98zjb2A) Whoops. Perhaps not exactly what you want wandering around an internationally important garden, snacking on the beds and borders. j ---
**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:** [June 12, 2022, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/1609 "2022-06-12T21:52:01Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > I was walking the dog down the sidewalk this morning and maybe 20’ ahead of us three squirrels crossed the street together. Two were gray and one was black. They weren’t quite the size yet of a full-grown squirrel so I assume they’re this year’s babies and siblings. I’ve never seen a group of squirrels hanging out together. I’ve seen two together, but it’s always a not-so-friendly chase. I took my dog out this morning, and when he was pooping, I saw three squirrels (all grey) running along the top of the ivy-covered fence. My sister saw four of them cavorting in the big oak tree across the street yesterday morning, And I was thinking the same as you – they’re slightly on the small side, so they’re this year’s juveniles having play dates. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2022, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/1610 "2022-06-12T21:59:10Z")
Yesterday our noisy, chattery, hungry house wrens finally fledged. I was able to get a picture of one of the chicks about 10 minutes before they flew the nest. Little one is _determined._ [https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/287858640\_10222815353601035\_6445489967363566313\_n.jpg?\_nc\_cat=100&ccb=1-7&\_nc\_sid=8bfeb9&\_nc\_ohc=bioYaI6JJsEAX9KXvIB&\_nc\_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00\_AT\_vhu64D2RxBMGHj\_o4vDpqQqURw9yBozfchnoinj-nBw&oe=62AB7E91](https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/287858640_10222815353601035_6445489967363566313_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=bioYaI6JJsEAX9KXvIB&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AT_vhu64D2RxBMGHj_o4vDpqQqURw9yBozfchnoinj-nBw&oe=62AB7E91) ---
**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 13, 2022, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/1611 "2022-06-13T00:35:41Z")
Best of luck, little feller. ---
**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 13, 2022, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/1612 "2022-06-13T19:32:33Z")
And from today, another fledgling pic. Strange story to go with this one. I was on the bike, just coming around a corner, and almost ran over a fledgling in the road. Not a good place for the little fella to be, so I turned the bike round and went back to him/her. Not being mad keen on the idea of my hands being being pecked and scratched miles from home, I tried to push him\* to the side of the road, but that didn’t work; so I got down and tried to scoop him with a hand, and somehow he managed to jump onto my arm, falconer style. At this stage I have a small bird on my right arm, a bike in my left hand, and am standing on the inside of a blind bend on a fairly busy country road - what started out as me trying to save a bird was beginning to look like something that could kill us both. I spotted a point where I could get off the road a couple of meters away, jumped up there into the bushes (dragging the bike after me) pushed my arm up against a branch, expecting the little fella to hop off. He didn’t. At this point (and now in relative safety) even I am thinking _Pics or it didn’t happen_. So here you go. [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Az7PgssCbsZlE-_Bapy1PctCe85HRcLOMNU2W5Dj7Vkwbx2WIJ5vn4fMWiZOc5kGWissY5YdyDbCjQEO_Gfuh8emcjYskOXrx4YE85_wLnxo28mBI57A_WEsTMNBg3sZrOa55bGSBw=w600-h315-p-k "New item by j") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/kkbyHrpHsBTxUxmy8) Click on the image for the full photo. Eventually I had to push him off my arm. Turns out he could fly - a bit - and settled on a branch. Hopefully to be rescued by mama or papa. Improbable postscript to improbable story. Today’s ride was a figure of eight configuration, about 100 meters of which is ridden both outbound and homeward. Of course - fledgling corner is in that 100 meter stretch. So I spent the next 30 km thinking: _Shit, what if he jumped back into the road? Am I gonna see…?_ Thankfully, nothing to report. j \* - I’m going to say “him” for shorthand. Just infer the “/her”. ETA: I was not scratched, pecked, shouted at or shat on. A very polite young bluetit. ---
**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 13, 2022, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/1613 "2022-06-13T19:47:39Z")
You know, don’t you, that he will be on your doorstep in the morning? ---
**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 13, 2022, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/1614 "2022-06-13T19:56:04Z")
“Please, kind sir, have you a peanut or two to spare?” ---
**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:** [June 13, 2022, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/1615 "2022-06-13T22:23:22Z")
Beautiful baby. A blue tit? On this side of the pond, he would be dubbed a young North American Gold Finch, a favorite of mine for his incoming cheery color and cheeps. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2022, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/1616 "2022-06-14T00:55:26Z")
I think you’re a Disney Princess now. ---
**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:** [June 14, 2022, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/1617 "2022-06-14T23:04:36Z")
Update on the eaglet, she’s getting ready to fly. She’s been test flapping her wings and using them when she moves from branch-sitting posture back to the nest. It’s only about three wing flaps but she controls it well. A young male has been visiting but not stealing food. But he’s still too young for partnership. Is he planning ahead to court the now-single Mom? Who knows? Our falcon baby is now an awkward youth with adult feathers beginning to show. The bird has grown to almost adult size but still has lots of down on her. None of the other eggs ever hatched but the result is that this one has been well-fed and tended to. The experts are expecting first flight in early July. Because the eggs were late, and the fact that it is mid-June and the bird is mostly down yet, I’m thinking mid-July for first flight. Time will tell. In other news, I’m going to have a banner crop of oregano this year for homemade pizza and spaghetti sauce. ---
**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:** [June 15, 2022, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/1618 "2022-06-15T01:37:18Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > banner crop of oregano this year Yeah! We have several different types of oregano we’ve maintained for years. Oregano, basil, mint, parsley, cilantro etc in pots, then a little garden with a giant parsley, rhubarb (producing big now), and tomatillos that reseed every year for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2022, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/1619 "2022-06-17T18:26:01Z")
This year’s Strawberry Moon, taken this past Tuesday. [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52150208047_90e066dd27_b.jpg "Strawberry Moon, 2022-06-14") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/78538399@N00/52150208047/) And this, from a few minutes later, using a warmer filter effect to bring out the distant houses better. [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52150381157_e50d538a9b_b.jpg "2022-06-16\_11-06-28") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/78538399@N00/52150381157/) ---
**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 19, 2022, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/1620 "2022-06-19T03:50:53Z")
Gorgeous. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2022, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/1621 "2022-06-19T11:34:22Z")
My gf’s horse Gracie has to wear a grazing muzzle part of the day. I was walking through our pasture looking for her yesterday, when I came upon a deer feeding her fawn. I froze. The fawn continued nursing. I very slowly moved my hand to my pocket for my phone so I could get this amazing picture. No phone. I very rarely do not have my phone with me. I wish I could share the mental image I have. I stood and watched them for about five minutes before they sashayed out of there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854.md?page=80) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854.md?page=82)