Mid-Summer Hikes In The Susquehanna Wetlands In Luzerne County

Much needed rain was in the forecast last  Saturday. The rain  was predicated to start around 11 a.m.  I decided to take a quick hike in the Susquehanna Wetlands before the rains arrived.  This private nature perverse along the Susquehanna River, is located about 10 miles north, as the crow flies. from my home in Hazle Township, Luzerne County. It was muggy and overcast when I stopped at the  two Water Fowl ponds near the entrance road to the wetlands parking lot.

While Fall doesn’t arrive until September 22 the growing season that began with the appearance of the skunk cabbages in March is beginning to end. The once clear ponds are covered with a deep green growth of algae and duckweed. 

There are fewer  wildflowers blooming around the ponds and in the wetlands. The only wildflowers near the ponds I saw were native American germander flowers.

Native Gray’s sedge,

and shallow sedge were also growing around the ponds and  have produced their seed heads.  Many of the grasses around the ponds were also going to seed.

The once loud and cheerful songs of the migratory and year  round birds had diminished. I only heard a few gray catbirds and song sparrows near the ponds.  I did see two  families of wood ducks swimming on the green waters of the pond. And I saw 8 green blue herons fly off the far side of the pond. I haven’t seen many great blue herons this summer.  I am not sure it it was a family that nested here this summer,  or, if they were from other areas and already migrating south. 

I left the ponds and drove to the parking lot.  I took my usual walk down to the ancient Susquehanna River. It was very low. We did not receive a lot of rain this Summer.

Near the river bank I found this Berkley polypore mushroom growing under an oak tree. I heard it is a choice edible mushroom when young, so I tried some of the outer edges. It was delicious. I enjoy fining, and eating wild mushrooms but I caution anyone to be absolutely positive they know what they are consuming because some mushrooms in our area are deadly.

I walked into the wetlands and under the still lush green canopy of the oaks, sycamores and red maple trees.

But not everything  was lush and green, the skunk cabbages, the first heralds of Spring,

and the mandrake or May apples were now  withered and brown, another sign Summer is at it’s peak.

Black berries,

and high bush blueberries, just flowers few  weeks ago, were now ripening along the trail.

And the air itself smelled of  mid Summer. It was a musty, earthy smell that the growing season has ended and now everything will slowly begin it’s decay, ending with the frosts and freezes  in  the Fall. This yearly circle spins faster with each passing year. And for me,  a lover of  migratory birds, wildflowers,  mushrooms,  insects,  frogs and snakes, and all flora and fauna in our woodlands,   I no longer look forward to  the cold, dark, lifeless Winter which seems to linger  longer each year.

But it  is still Summer and I will enjoy ever minute of, as I did on my hike Saturday.  I walked on the Beaver Trail and saw  a couple of migratory song birds a female common American redstart and,

a male common yellowthroat.

I walked back to the Water Fowl pond, and saw a pair of red  tailed hikes,

perched high atop the branches of dead tree.

While watching the hawks I heard the loud and frantic cries of a wood duck. I looked across the pond and watched as a mink reached into the pond and grabbed  a small wood duckling. The mom continued her frantic calls.  Nature can be cruel.  It happened to fast to get photos but it was another remarkable experience in he wetlands, one of many over the years I have been hiking here. 

I continued to watch the red tailed hawks.I think they were also eyeing the wood ducks and great blue herons I saw earlier. There was a great blue heron perched on a  nearby treetop.

The creeping thistle that was blooming on my last visit  had now gone to seed.

So there were no bees, wasps or butterflies, but I still did see a few dragonflies, this is a blue dasher dragonfly.

I left the ponds and began my usual one mile hike to the river lands section of  the private nature preserve.

A light rain began to fall as I continued on my hike, I walked back down to the river when the rain got heavy.  I had to cover my camera but continued on  my hike, 

seeing this green frog along the trail.  I  tried to catch it but just missed. I never missed catching them when I was young.

I also saw this red-winged black bird in the rain.Here is a link to a gallery on my blog web page with some more photos of the birds I saw on my hike in the wetlands   before the rain arrived.   Susquehanna Wetlands birds July 18 2026. 

I had only hiked a little over 3 miles and would have continued my hike in the rain, however, I heard rumble of thunder.   I hurried back to my Jeep and made it just before a thunderstorm hit the wetlands. I don’t mind walking in warm Summer rain  but getting struck by lightning is not on my bucket list. Here is a link to a gallery on my blog web page with some more photos from  my hike in the wetlands   before the rain arrived.   Susquehanna Wetlands  July 18 2026. 

It was another great hike in the wetlands.  I decided to return the next day to  investigate the flock of great blue herons and try and get some photos of the young wood ducklings. It was a mostly sunny and less humid when I arrived back in the wetlands early Sunday morning. I stopped at the two Water Fowl ponds and again saw the flock of great blue herons fly off from the other end of the ponds.

There were no wood ducks on the ponds. It was very quiet again. I only heard the gray catbirds, and a few song sparrows singing in the early morning sunshine. I believe many of the birds  are too busy gathering food for their young ones to stop and sing.

I drove to the wetlands parking lot. I didn’t take my usual walk down to the Susquehanna River.  A woman and her dog were parked near the boat ramp so I left them enjoy the beauty of the river. I walked into the wetlands under the large oak, red maple and sycamore trees. The rays of the early morning sun filtered through the still lush green canopy of  leaves.

I came to the Beaver Trail and followed it , through the wetlands,

to the Water Fowl ponds.Here I saw a family  of wood ducks. There were only three young ducklings with this female.  The minks, snapping turtles and hawks were taking a  toll on the young ducklings.

 

While watching the wood ducks, a red-tailed hawk flew overhead,

and perched atop one of the dead trees near the pond.

A much smaller  eastern phobe perched on a branch on the pond searching for much smaller prey.

I left the ponds and began my 1 mile hike through the wetlands toward the river lands.

On my walk I saw more sign of the approached end of  Summer,  the black walnut ,

and hickory nut trees both had produced  a nice crop of nuts, good news for the animals that rely on the nuts to survive the  long Winters.

And where there are hickory nut trees there are hickory tussock moths, and I saw this tussock moth caterpillar dangling from a tree.

As I walked along the canal I saw this female wood duck perched on a log,

and as I approached she dived into the water and led her two ducklings to the safety of the vegetation along the canal. About 10 to 12 wood ducks hatch in a nest in late Spring. It seems that most of the large brood of  ducklings are taken by hawks, minks, snapping turtles and other predators. However the few that remain are better protected by the parents and can mature and migrate south to continue the survival of the species.

I walked down to the Susquehanna River and followed the trail along the river ,

to the new trails cut in the old farm fields and meadows.

Here I found more Summer flowers blooming on the open fields including, invasive yellow  loosestrife and

common mullien, and 

one of my favorite late Summer favorites, the first native New England asters. These flowers often bloom until the first frosts arrive.

Native daisy fleabane also bloomed in the fields. 

Where there are wildflowers there are insects and I saw a red-spotted admiral and

a red  admiral butterfly.

There were also some dragonflies on the path through the fields, including a meadowhawk dragonfly and,

a pondhawk dragonfly.

A few birds were also in the meadows, I saw this gray catbird,

a wood thrush

and a few goldfinches, this is a brightly colored male.

I left the fields and walked over to the river lands section of the nature park. Here fishing and dog walking are allowed and there are picnic  and playground area.

Along the canal leading to the river lands I saw this muskrat feeding on some reeds.

It appeared to be stuffing it’s mouth with the reeds . like a chipmunk, I am guessing to feed some young ones in  nearby nest.

I walked onto the path between Lake Took-A-While and the old river canal, where I saw a few folks fishing along the lake.

In  a picnic area along the lake I found this sunflower in bloom.

It was a pleasant Sunday morning to be outdoors.  Walking along the lake  I saw a lot more dragonflies darting along the shore of the lake. In addition to the pond hawks I saw a lot of Halloween pennant  dragonflies, including this pair caught in a compromised position.

I also saw a few small white butterflies along the trail.

I followed the trail past the lake,

and decided to continue on the Susquehanna Warrior Trail.

The trail follows an old railroad right of way ,

and through a grove of old white pine trees.

I often see indigo buntings here along the abandoned railroad tracks  and I  did again on my Sunday morning hike.

I also saw a few chipping sparrows.

I followed the trail out for about a mile, passing a few folks on bicycles.   I came to an old grove along  the Susquehanna River. I often wondered about the grove and when it was built. I reflected on the many happy Summer memories that were  made here over their years.  The grass is still cut and the building maintained but I haven’t seen anyone using the grove in the 10 years I have been hiking here.

It was near noon when I  began my  3 mile hike back to the wetlands parking lot.

The strong July sun warmed the cool morning air and temperatures rose into the low 80’s. I didn’t see or hear much bird activity on my hike back.

But I did hear the.first  bittersweet sound of the first  annual  cicadas. I love the loud piercing sound of these insects. I spent many Summer hours listening to their symphonies in the tree tops. However, unlike the cheerful  sounds of the Spring peepers that herald the beginning of Spring, the sounds of the cicadas  herald the end of Summer.

There is going to be plenty of warm Summer days ahead of us, but the sounds of the cicadas remind us they won’t last forever.

I walked back to the wetlands. listening to the cicadas and reflecting on another passing Summer. As I walked along the canal at the end of the river lands I saw one more family of wood ducks. This female still had a six ducklings in her brood.  I hope she can keep them safe until they are fledge and can fly to safety when approached by predators.   Here is a link to a gallery on my blog web page with some more photos of the birds I saw on my hike in the wetlands.   Susquehanna Wetlands bird July 19 2026

It was after 1 p.m. when I finished my 7 mile hike in the wetlands and river lands. I walked further and was out longer then I planned.  It still wasn’t as long or as far as the entire day hikes I sometimes took in my  younger years. I often would take  15 mile all day hikes on a sunny Summer day. I love being outside and  keeping my eyes peeled looking for  the beauty of nature, both the flora and fauna,  that exists.  And there is so much beauty here in the wetlands and river lands. Here is a link to a gallery on my blog web page with some more photos  from my hike  in the wetlands.   Susquehanna Wetlands  July 19 2026. 

“Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August.” —Jenny Han

“Again and again, the cicada’s untiring cry pierced the sultry summer air like a needle at work on thick cotton cloth.”―Yukio Mishima