Birds, Mammals, Wildlife, and Nature Photography
The Woodchuck and Birds of the Brush Pile
Who knew that a brush pile could serve as a nature photography studio
“I am too easily contented with a slight and almost animal happiness. My happiness is a good deal like that of the woodchucks. “— Henry David Thoreau
Essex Park has become my favorite close-to-home bird watching and bird photography destination. The large city park is located on the site of an old farmstead and still features an old windmill, a barn, a corn crib, and a silo. It features varied landscapes, including a hardwood forest, sprawling meadows filled with wildflowers, and a small creek without a name.
I wander the trails of Essex park several times each week when birds are most active. While the route varies, visits almost always include two stops at the park brush pile. While it’s not a scenic spot, songbirds regularly perch on its dead brush, logs, and nearby live trees, shrubs, and flowers. Situated between a hiking trail and a…
