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  • Home
  • PRESERVE
    • Ecology
    • Invasive Species
    • Ponds
    • Clean Ups
    • Trails
  • ENJOY
    • halloween-22
    • Photos
    • Birding >
      • greenHeron
    • Trail Maps
    • Calendar
  • B W Kids
    • Nature Detectives - the latest news
  • History
  • Who We Are
    • Chuan-Chu Chou Blog
    • Perspectives on the Park
    • MemberInfo
    • presidentReport-1Q-21
  • Shop
  • JOIN
  • biancaTemp
  • loisTemp






brightwood park discoveries

Ring-Necked Ducks Returned With Friends!

3/13/2023

 
 
​​In a set of photos that I took between March 1 and 7, you will see seven ring-necked ducks swimming in the pond.  In the beginning of February, three males appeared in the pond and stayed for about two weeks.  Then they moved somewhere else.  Yesterday they came back, this time with another three males plus a female.  You can see and tell how much they enjoy the party.

Mushrooms are my favorite objects.  Here in one of the pictures, with a string of them on the bark of a tree, there appeared a human face on top of the string.

One day before I headed to the park, a handsome red-bellied woodpecker came by to say hello.  I had a Canon SX740 camera on hand that allowed me to take a few snapshots.  Enjoy!

A Flash Treat of Snow

3/9/2023

 
Most of us living in Westfield experienced an interesting period of 18 hours.  We had a calm evening of early spring.  This morning many were caught by a surprise.  It was a typical winter scene.  The trees and the ground were covered by layers of snow. 

Driven by excitement, I ran to Brightwood Park and met my friend and fellow FOBP directorA , JPL, who was already in the park.  We enjoyed the beauty of the park so much and both decided to record what we saw to share with friends and neighbors.  The fence of the Demonstration Garden was coated with snow.  The cages for the newly planted trees once again looked like tents with a nice white blanket on top.

In one of the pictures of geese swimming, at the center top you may find the face of a reindeer overlooking and smiling.

Within 4 hours, the park changed its dress from winter to spring, By noon most of the snow was gone, as seen in the last two pictures.

First Snowfall

3/2/2023

 
 I went to the park around 7:30 a.m. after the season's first snowfall. It was very quiet. I saw no people or animals, just footprints of one other visitor and mine and of a few other creatures.  I could tell that deer and racoons were nearby.  What interested me the most was the footprints in a straight line, with the prints evenly spread out.  I don't believe there was a one-legged animal.

When I walked past the bridge of the dam, I had a strange feeling that someone was watching me.  It turned out to be the ice hanging on a tree branch, with two small holes looking like eyes.  Nature seemed to have a sense of humor by celebrating Halloween on February 28.  I waited a few moments for the "boo!".  


    Chuan-Chu Chou

    I am a frequent visitor of Brightwood Park and enjoy sharing my discoveries.

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Location

Brightwood Park is on the North end of Prospect Street.  Go past Franklin School and look for the entrance on the left.

What Our Members Are Saying

"I love the work you are doing at Brightwood.  Your efforts have shone a light on the essential elements of the park that we all cherish: its natural beauty and tranquility."

"I have a deep fondness for Brightwood park and would like to see it restored, remain natural and continue to be a site of passive recreation."

"I loved growing up in Brightwood Park !"


"I found Brightwood a few years ago and it's a great place to find wildlife, fish, and enjoy nature. Nice and quiet; good place to un wind and relax. Love it!!!"

​"As a resident for almost thirty years in the Brightwood area of Westfield, I am thrilled to see what is happening to improve and preserve Brightwood park for today and future generations. "


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