A Cold And Windy Easter Morning Exploring New Trails Near The Penn Forest Reservoir In Carbon County
I decided to return to the Penn Forest Reservoir in Carbon County early Easter Sunday morning. I wanted to explore some more of the many trails on these lands owned by the Bethlehem City Authority, and are graciously open to the public.
I decided to park on Hell Hollow Road again, near the Cross Run creek. I hiked here on Friday and wanted to follow a trail on the eastern side of the reservoir. It was overcast , windy and unseasonably cold when I began my hike.
I walked down to the creek and wetland where I again saw the eastern phoebes I had seen on my hike on Friday. The blue gray gnatcatchers, and swamp sparrows weren’t around, in fact I saw no other birds in the area.
If not for the lush green new growth of the skunk cabbages and ,
green false hellebore plants, the cold windy conditions made it seem more like February the mid April.
I followed the trail to a bend which took me through a woodland of Norwegian fir trees. It was quiet with no bird or other wildlife activity on the trail.
I did find another sign of Spring, theses delicate white trailing arbutus flowers. 
The trail continued on the eastern boundary of the Bethlehem Authority lands, above the Penn Forest reservoir. It soon left the Norwegian firs trees and became more oak and pitch pines.
And where there are pine trees, in the Spring in Northeastern Pennsylvania, there are usually pine warblers.
And I saw a flock of them,
feeding on insects the found in the pine cones. 
I also saw a few tufted titmice, 
and one of my favorite migratory birds, a black and white warbler. 
There were no other wildlfowers or any buds on the trees. In addition to the pine and fir trees the only greens along the trail were areas of fan club moss, and
fan-branched tree-clubmoss. 
The wide, grass and gravel trail was well maintained. I followed it up a ridge until I came to a utility pole line,
which I followed downhill toward the reservoir.
The strong April sun began to shine through some breaks in the clouds as the trail took me through some wetter woodland.
Here I began to see some more bird activity, first seeing a few white breasted nuthatches scurrying down the oak and maple trees along the trail.
Then I saw a few brown creepers that were scurrying up the same trees.
A flock of noisy red bellied woodpeckers,
were flying from tree to tree above the trail.
And I saw another flick of migratory birds, palm warblers feeding in the leaf litter in the ground.
I was out about 2 1/2 miles when the utility line neared the reservoir and started to take me back 
to my Jeep parked on Hell Hollow Road.
The wider trail ended as I entered some wetlands. The trail was now grassy and I would make sure I had tick repellent on next time I hike here.
The trail now took me to a narrow trail through an area that was once logged.
The new growth forest was maturing and it was a nice trail, and will be nicer when the oak and maple trees are covered in leaves.
The trail took me closer to the fence that surrounds the reservoir, where I had views of the Blue Mountain through the naked tree branches.It also took me nearer to a wetland on one spur of the reservoir and this looked like a good place to look for hawks and bald eagles. I didn’t see any on this hike but I hope to return soon, and see them then.
I only saw one more bird here and on my the rest of my five mile hike, this downy woodpecker. Here is a a link to a gallery on my blog web site with some more photos of the birds I saw on my hike. Penn Forest Reservoir birds April 20 2025. 
The trail took me back to Cross Run Creek and I walked back up to Hell Hollow Road.
The sun was now shining and warmed the temperature into the 60’s. I took a quick walk across the road and up the Pinoak Road trail I hiked on Friday. 
The only living critter I saw was this cabbage white butterfly feeding on a dandelion.
I walked back to my Jeep. In my younger days I would walk another five miles exploring these trails. Not anymore, I had walked five miles and two earlier near my home. Seven miles are close to my limit anymore. And I wanted to get home to visit with family at my niece Kelly’s home me. I will be back on these and the many other trail located in these beautiful woodlands. Here is a a link to a gallery on my blog web site with some more photos from my five mile hike. Penn Forest Reservoir April 20 2025. 
“The best way to experience nature is on foot.” – Muir
“Walking is the most perfect form of motion for a person who wants to discover the true life.” – Thoreau
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