This Week At Nixon Park 2025
As of May 8th all of Chester County remained in a moderate drought, perhaps that will finally change with this week's rains. The rain cut into my time at the park this week a bit, but there's plenty to see this time of year.
Nature
Before long the soft filaments of back willow (Salix nigra) seeds will be drifting through the park. Black willows are so common we are likely to pass them by, but they are a vital part of the park ecosystem. They grow in floodplains, stream banks, swamps, marshes, sloughs, and ponds
Birds
Tyrant flycatchers are so called because they are, well, tyrannical, jealously guarding their territory from interlopers. Possessing keen eyesight for spotting insects and judging distances, flat, wide bills perfect for catching prey, and whisker-like bristles around their mouths likely aiding rapid course corrections, flycatchers are formidable hunters. Flycatchers have their
Some recent photos. I’ll be at third thursday this week on State Street with my paintings 5:30-7:30 pm.
Nature
A seasonably warm week with plenty of sun, and enough rain to break the back of the drought.
Birds
A quick disclaimer - these photos are from the past couple of years, I've seen the Sanpdpiper this spring several times but have yet to get a good picture. Sandpipers are usually associated with the shore, but the Spotted Sandpiper is a frequent sight around the ponds and
Nature
The purplish pink buds of Eastern Redbud trees have been putting on their annual show this past month or so. I came across what looked like a redbud growing near one of the picnic pavilions at the park, but was confused because it had white flowers. I've learned
This Week At Nixon Park 2025
May has arrived, a little warmer and drier than you'd expect. The NOAA drought information system information for Kennett Square predicts the drought we've been in since last September will be lifted this month. As I noted perviously the Green Herons have returned. This morning I
Nature
The Red Clay Creek has carved a gently rolling landscape out of the remains of ancient mountains.
Birds
Our Green Herons (Butorides virescens) have returned. They are roughly the size of a crow. At rest they are hunched and stocky, when extended their surprisingly long neck dramatically changes their silhouette. Green Herons are not very green at all. In the right light their crest, back, wings and tail
Flowers
There's so much to see in April! Here's some of the observations from this week.
I've been watching the Mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum) emerge and open their umbrella-like leaves over the past few weeks. Colonies of mayapples blanket much of the beech grove having emerged just after the trout lilies to join the parade of spring ephemerals. I'll post pictures of the