I once traveled through Woodward in north central Oklahoma. Two days later it was hit by a tornado and a few days after that by another one, the last one killing three people. It was a startling reminder of how quickly things change in this part of the country.
I was in the area to visit Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge not to bird, per se, but rather to collect selenite crystals in the salt plains. After collecting a pint of crystals I took time to video Snowy Plovers, Charadrius nivosus (frame grabs - right) which I had not noticed initially, they blended in well with the salt pan.
Earlier in the day I had driven through the early morning dark and fog - going 45 in a 55 zone - fog which prevented the use of high beams, when a pair of lights roared out of the fog to my rear and turned into a school bus as it rushed past. I knew right then and there that I was in a different world.