Quote Originally Posted by salsabike
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What do you guys see?

(Another favorite BikeForums thread, by the way, was "What's the biggest bug you ever ate?" As one who rides breathing through her mouth often, I'm sure that thread will be relevant to me at some point).
I got chased by a "rabid chicken" once when mountainbiking. It was a very territorial ruffed grouse - so said the park ranger after he stopped laughing.

The DH and I just yesterday saw a HUGE dragonfly - some type of darner, I think, with about a 5" wingspan. It must have gotten knocked silly by a car, as it was head down on the sidewalk beside the road not looking terribly happy. It was still there (and still alive) 2.5 hrs later when we came by again on the return trip. DH moved it off the sidewalk onto some branches. I hope it recovered.

On the bike, I've also seen bunnies (near and dear to my heart), pileated woodpeckers, more deer than I care to think about, pheasant, squirrels, several types of turtles, SNAKES!, fox, black vultures, turkey vultures, and the usual assortment of suburban songbirds, but I won't count them (still looking for bluebirds rumoured to frequent one area where we ride, but haven't seen 'em yet).

Regarding the bug in the face: I once took a bug in the back of the throat (ulp! Swallowed it!) and it left a big knot there for HOURS. Yuck. But the worst was the other week when I took a big bug...I think a bee...in the inside of my lower lip. I guess it stung me, as my lower lip and face swelled to softball size before DH dragged me to the doctor's for treatment!