April 15, 2016
The John Heinz at Tinicum National Wildlife Refuge (link) is a 1000 acre NWR located in the southern part of Philadelphia County and part of Delaware County. It abuts the Philadelphia Airport and Interstate 95 on its eastern side. The refuge includes some woodlands, but is mainly a few impoundment ponds and a freshwater tidal marsh where Darby Creek flows into the Delaware River.
It was established in 1972, and is remarkable in being an NWR that is essentially in an urban area since it is surrounded by developed areas and active industry. The refuge supports migratory birds as well as a year-round population of other birds, plants, reptiles, etc.
Besides a visitor center with displays there are also 16 miles of trails, boardwalks across the pond and into the marsh, and also some observation platforms. One of the latter is close to where the bald eagles nest.
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This particular walk was a 3.5 mile loop that went along the trail between the impoundment pond and the creek, went along part of the marsh, and then cut back around the pond to the visitor center. The trail was paved for the most part and ran on top of the dike between the pond and creek. (The pond is not tidal, whereas the creek and marsh are.)
Undergrowth plants were the usual for the region — lots of “naturalized” invasives such as Lesser Celandine, violets, honeysuckle, etc. And they appeared to be heavier towards the visitor center than in the farther areas.
Walking along the dike gave a good view into the pond. However, the brush did interfere with taking photos at times.
Unfortunately I only got one photo of the Great Blue Heron. It had left by the time I came around the pond later in the afternoon.
The woodpecker just sat there without moving and let me take 3-4 pictures.
The area where the boardwalk crossed the pond and at the two observation platforms were swarming with lots of lots of swallows. Since I have only recently seen swallows along the Schuylkill River I presume that they are fairly recent arrivals here as well.
Much more colorful than the Bank Swallows I have been seeing closer to home.
There were also many turtles basking in the pond are along the creek. Presumably many were Red-earred Sliders (considered an invasive species) though the refuge’s website indicates that there are a number of turtle species found there.
Coming around a curve on the trail I looked up and to the left and there was a hawk sitting in a tree on a limb about 15’ up. It was looking down at the ground along the edge of the pond. It sat there and pretty much ignored the people walking along the trail. It also ignored a cardinal that sat in the same tree chirping at it. A photo opportunity not to be passed up.
At the far end of the loop from the visitors center the creek empties into a freshwater tidal marsh. There is a boardwalk out into the marsh to an observation platform. (There are also additional trails running along dikes through the marshes and along the creek. And there is a separate parking area at the far end as well.)
There were four swams at the far end of the pond in some of the open water. The pond on the side away from the creek is more swampy with more undergrowth and shorter sight lines.
A large bird came soaring down along the length of the pond. Too big for a hawk, and not flying like a vulture. The only pictures were long range, and I thought due to seeing a glimmer of white head that it would be a bald eagle since they were known to live and nest in the area.
The trail on the far side of the pond has more trees and sections of woods that include low spots and vernal ponds. I did not hear any frogs, but the visitors are limited to the trails only in order to protect the area for the frogs and toads. (I also presume the snakes would be back here as well in order to eat the frogs.)
A ranger at an observation deck pointed out a muskrat swimming around nearby. And I missed that since I was concentrating on getting a another picture of a pair of coots near there.
Great egrets were seen in 2-3 locations around the pond hunting for fish.
Last picture here simply since I found it amusing.
Also of note is that there appears to be a put-in near the visitor center for canoes (and presumably kayaks). Though I don’t know what the rules are regarding their use in the impoundment pond since I expect there would be seasonal limits do to birds nesting. And besides, the carp were spawning in the pond, and thus could be dangerous to Backyard Science kayakers. ;)
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