Nature

This Week at Nixon Park - May 3-9

Clarke Green

09 May 2025 — 2 min read

The Red-winged Blackbirds have arrived.

A seasonably warm week with plenty of sun, and enough rain to break the back of the drought.

Water forget-me-nots, Wild Geranium, Fleabane, immature Mayapple fruit, closeup of Solomon's Plume, Solomon's Plume, Brambles (raspberry or wineberry)

Catbird, Wood Thrush, Northern Flicker, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Robin's Nest

I look in on the Green Heron nest every day.

Black Willow

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

Tyrants!

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

Seen Around Town

Some recent photos. I’ll be at third thursday this week on State Street with my paintings 5:30-7:30 pm.

Spotted Sandpiper

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

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Black Willow

Tyrants!

Seen Around Town

Spotted Sandpiper