This Week at Nixon Park May 16-23

Clarke Green

24 May 2025 — 2 min read

Cedar Waxwing

Some rainy days this week, difficult conditions for getting decent pictures, but a few interesting takes none-the-less.

Rain beading off the leaves of Hemp Dogbane, Black Willow catkin ready to release seeds into the air, Jack-in-the-pulpit spadix with seeds, Fruit developing on catkin of American Hornbeam

Robin nestlings peeking out of the nest, A blurry (man they are fast!) picture of a swooping Barn Swallow, a rather proud looking Robin, Inquisitive Nuthatch, one day in the far distance a Crow (top) harassing a Red-tailed Hawk. an exultant Oriole, shady Carolina Wren.

Baskettail dragonfly, Ebony Jewelwing damselfly, A midge I have yet to identify accurately.

I saw what I thought were tadpoles along the bank of the small pond. I looped back to look and was surprised to see them huddling around a Brown bullhead catfish. When I was able to get a closer look at the picture I saw the whiskers on the young fish. I learned that catfish keep their young close for around a month after they have left the nest. The last picture is of Mosquitofish, these are full-grown.

Eastern Box Turtle

This is the fifth and final species profile in the turtle series, here's the first entry that discusses things common to all the turtles at the park with links to the other profiles. I've only seen one eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) at Nixon Park,

Eastern Musk Turtle

The Eastern Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) basks in the sun less than other turtle species. While occasionally seen with other basking turtles, they are more typically found basking alone. This solitary basking behavior can make them somewhat difficult to spot within the park. Oddly enough they are very good climbers

Eastern Painted Turtle

This is the third species profile in the turtle series, here's the first entry that discusses things common to all the turtles at the park with links to the other profiles. Eastern Painted turtles (Chrysemys picta, picta), and Pond sliders and Red-eared sliders (both of the genus Trachemys)

Pond & Red-Eared Sliders

This is the second species profile in the turtle series, here's the first entry that discusses things common to all the turtles at the park with links to the other profiles. Pond sliders, Trachemys scripta, and subspecies the Red-eared slider, Trachemys scripta elegans are frequently seen basking on

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Eastern Box Turtle

Eastern Musk Turtle

Eastern Painted Turtle

Pond & Red-Eared Sliders