This Week At Nixon Park 2025
According to Penn State Extension there are 437 species of native bees in Pennsylvania. I've observed 32 different species at Anson B. Nixon Park, and I imagine there are many I have not yet seen. These native bees are an important indicator of a healthy environment, and certainly
This Week At Nixon Park 2025
Partridge pea flower, New York Ironweed with Monarch, Spearmint, Elderberries, Wild Leek, Black Snakeroot, Partridge Pea, Joe Pye Weed
Bees
If you visit the park over the next couple of weeks take some time to visit the Hibiscus Turret Bee colony along the path between the ponds. Ptilothrix bombiformis, (also called the Rose-mallow Bee or Eastern Digger Bee), is a solitary mining bee. This fascinating species of bee prefers highly
This Week At Nixon Park 2025
Relentless sweltering sun, glowering storm clouds, heavy curtains of rain, gentle perfumes and shocking odors; every corner green and humming. Summer in all its intensity holds nothing back.
Birds
Back in late May - early June I reported that it looked like the Green Heron nest had been spoiled. I kept checking the nest for a week or two and never saw the heron sitting nor the eggs. This was a big disappointment, I had been keeping an eye
This Week At Nixon Park 2025
The long, hot, humid days have and frequent rain make for a vibrant green July. As summer flowers proliferate so do the bees and wasps. Dragonfly and damselfly season is in high gear supplying a source of food for many birds. This week the Kingbird nestlings flexed their wings, shook
This Week At Nixon Park 2025
It was a week for Kingbirds (more about Tyrant Flycatchers). Kingbirds aggressively defend their territories, even against the largest bird they are likely to run across at the park, the Great Blue Heron. I saw the chase pictured above a couple of times this week. I've been watching
Dragonflies
The other post in this series covers the Dragonfly Life Cycle These are the twelve species of dragonfly you are most likely to see at the park. I've arranged them into their various families and groups and included some basic points to identify them. male dragonflies are much
This Week At Nixon Park 2025
This week I visited the meadow area that has grown to cover the old landfill site. Barn Swallows and Tree Swallows were hawking for insects, and there's a very active and vocal nesting community of Red-winged Blackbirds who, having spotted me at some distance, were not interested in
This is the first of several posts about Odonata; an order of predatory flying insects that includes dragonflies (Anisoptera) and damselflies (Zygoptera). This is a generalized life cycle that points out stages you may observe at the park. You can see up to a dozen species of dragonflies along the
This Week At Nixon Park 2025
A hot week. Enough said about that. I like to walk slowly through the beech grove when the weather is hot (truth be told I walk slowly everywhere when the weather is hot). The canopy of trees shades the trail almost completely, and the undergrowth is lush, cool and green.
Birds
Tree Swallows, Northern Rough-winged Swallows and Barn Swallows frequent the ponds and meadows of the park. Stand quietly and watch as they speed by, often just a few feet away, darting and weaving through the air so effortlessly you'd swear they're doing it just for fun.