Beechwood Photo Gallery
Nature Photography from Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve
Photographs by ASWP staff and volunteers. Copyright reserved. For permission to use these photographs or descriptions in any publication, contact ASWP.
Pine Siskins have returned en masse this January, 2009. This migrant is seen locally in small numbers in isolated locations most winters. But every once in a while we have an "irruption," where large numbers appear. It has been some years since the last significant irruption, but this year they are being seen at bird feeders across western Pennsylvania. We've seen close to 50 birds at a time at our feeders at Beechwood. Irruptions occur when food sources in their typical wintering areas north of Pennsylvania run low. Pine Siskins are similar in size and beak to goldfinches, and feed at the same feeders, but they have a white breast with many brown streaks; males will show yellow wingbars and tail highlights. When siskins are in town, also watch for other irruptives, such as Red-winged Crossbills, White-winged Crossbills, Common Redpolls and perhaps Evening Grosbeaks. Photo Scott Detwiler, January 2009.
We have a Hedgehog Mushroom living in one of our large, dead silver maples by the pond. This is the second appearance for this mushroom in this tree this year; we saw it earlier this summer. In the between-time, a several clumps of nondescript gilled mushrooms made a show, but now the hedgehog has returned for a late fall encore. Pure white at first emergence, this hedgehog is beginning to brown at the tips. Notice the fine white powder of spores beneath. Hedgehogs are in the genus Hericium, and yes, some species in this genus are edible, but please don't eat ours, leave it for others to observe. If mushrooms interest you, you might be interested in the Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club that meets monthly in season here at Beechwood. See our events calendar for a meeting schedule. Photo Scott Detwiler, October 2008.
Bottle Gentians are an unusual wildflower. The petals never open; they grow together with the fertile parts of the flower protected in a sack, or "bottle." The bumblebee knows what to do, though. She probes the tip of the flower until she finds her way through the top of the closed sack. She will crawl completely inside, disappearing from view, only to reappear a moment later, ready to find the next flower. This bottle gentian was growing in the sales beds at our Audubon Center for Native Plants. Photo Scott Detwiler, September.
Monarchs and many other butterflies frequent Beechwood's meadows and gardens. Monarchs drink the nectar of many kinds of flowers, but only lay their eggs on milkweed species. This monarch is on a butterfly bush, a non-native garden shrub. Photo Scott Detwiler, July.
Late summer clothes our meadows in Goldenrod yellow. Like milkweed, goldenrod has its own subset of specific insect colonies, include the famous galls our Volunteer Naturalists enjoy showing to field trip students. Photo Scott Detwiler, September.
This Divergent Metallic Woodborer landed on the photographer's shoulder at the Tree House. The moment the beetle realized where it was, it immediately dropped into "pretending to be dead" mode, where it outlasted the patience of the photographer. The beetle is a metallic bronze color. Photo Scott Detwiler, July.
There's always something blooming at the Audubon Center for Native Plants here at Beechwood. This Blazing Star, a prairie species native to Pennsylvania, does well in sunny gardens. Photo Scott Detwiler, July.
Queen Anne's Lace is a european import escaped into the wild, but many local insects frequent its blooms anyway. 
These Flower Longhorn Beetles are enjoying a fresh bloom. Photos Scott Detwiler, July.
Our resident screech owl in our raptor center often attracts friends from the Reserve. We found this wild Red-Phased Eastern Screech Owl hanging out under the education Building porch after a late night. Photo Brian Shema, December.
Green Frogs are booming in our restored pond. This big fellow has been hanging out in the same location in the shade near the rocks all summer long. The fold of skin running along the back distinguishes it from the bullfrog. Photo Scott Detwiler, June.
Bullfrogs are back in our pond after being absent for at least several years; perhaps the improved insect populations and water quality following the 2005 pond restoration have encouraged them. The lack of a fold of skin running along the back is the key identifier. Photo Scott Detwiler, July.
At the edge of the pond is a large, hollow nearly-but-not-quite-dead-yet silver maple. This old tree is a favorite of our Volunteer Naturalists because on a warm sunny spring day they might be lucky enough to show their students the Black Rat Snake who lives there. At this moment, the snake is preparing to shed, as indicated by its cloudy eyes. Watch out for the poison ivy if you visit! Photo Scott Detwiler, May.
A Common Whitetail Dragonfly rests on the pier at the pond. Dragonfly populations have been impressive recently. In addition to this species, we have seen many amberwings, green darners, saddlebags, widows and several species of bluets, a damselfly. Photo Scott Detwiler, June.