RichBan

Wissahickon Nature Notes

One of my regular hikes is from home in the Wissahickon section of Philadelphia into the Wissahickon Valley - an entrance to this section of the Fairmount Park system lies only a half-block from my front door. From home I make for the Blue Stone Bridge where I pick up Forbidden Drive and then the foot / bike path along the western bank of the creek to the 100 Steps and home.

Recently I’ve noticed that the section of scrub and trees starting at the Hermit’s Cave and continuing to Hermit Lane including the - I presume invasive - bamboo has been home to several Eastern Towhees.  I noticed them for the first time in early December, 2011 (and I’ve been hiking here for almost 15 years now) and a month later they can still be found. They are year-round residents of this area - I hope they’ve made this little section of the valley home.