October at Nixon Park
October has been busy, but I have been able to keep up with my visits to the park. Here's what I've seen over the past month.
Clarke Green
A Natural History of Empty Lots
You learn to banish from your mind the illusory fantasy that there is some precious, intact wilderness still out there, beyond the horizon, where wildlife can eke out a healthy existence outside the realm of our dominion. You come to see how the other species we share this planet with
Tan Stripes and White Stripes
In the spring most of our White-throated Sparrows migrate north to their breeding range in New England and Central Canada. The other day I heard a distinctive song signaling their return: a beautiful, wistful, slightly melancholy tune. They will be my constant companions all winter long, calling from the thickets
Dragonflies
Shadow Darner
My camera gear finally arrived repaired and ready to go from the service center, and there's some catching up to do. I'll be putting together several posts this week time permitting. The Shadow Darner (Aeshna umbrosa) was an exciting find. They get their name from the
Butterflies
Following the Milkweed
I was surprised to spot a Monarch at the park in early October. It was the first time I spotted one this late in the year, (it's not unprecedented except for me). The monarch’s migration is famously the longest and most complex of any North American butterfly.
Asters, Beggarticks, Smartweeds, & Goldenrod
Thanks to everyone for your kind words after my talk at the library. I'll eventually post all the resources I used putting it together here. The past couple of weeks I have been either preparing for the talk or waiting for my camera gear to return from Hackensack
Waterside Gathering October 19th
I will be conducting creekside walks at the Brandywine Conservancy's Community Waterside Gathering Sunday October 19th at Anson B. Nixon Park. This will be a 20-30 minute guided walk along the Red Clay Creek in Anson B. Nixon Park, exploring centuries of change from wetlands to milldams to
History Talk Saturday Sept. 20
I will be giving a presentation about the history of Anson B. Nixon Park on Saturday September 20 at 3-4:00 PM at the Kennett Library. Get a Free Ticket Here
This Week At Nixon Park 2025
Recently at Nixon Park - Early September
"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds" from "Self-Reliance" - Ralph Waldo Emerson Trying to publish a weekly review of what I've seen at the park doesn't seem to work as well as it once did. Let's try
Skippers
Dichotomous Key - Skippers at Anson B. Nixon Park 1. Wings are held open and flat at rest Go to 2 1. Wings are held vertically over the back or in a "jet fighter" orientation Go to 3 Group 2 (Spread-wing Skippers) 2. Wings are dark with white
The last TWO Weeks at Nixon Park - August 13-26
August 13-19 was a mostly cloudy week, making for poor photography conditions, so I decided to take a break, thus two weeks in this post for the price of one.
This Week At Nixon Park 2025
This Week at Nixon Park - August 6-12
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