A Lot Of Wood Ducks On A Dreary And Cloudy Fall Day In The Susquehanna Wetlands
It was another cloudy Fall day in Northeastern Pennsylvania on Sunday. We had overcast skies for almost a week. At least there was no rain in the forecast. I decided to make my usual visit to the Susquehanna Wetlands and Riverlands in Salem Township, Luzerne County. As usual I stopped at the ponds along the road before the entrance to the Wetlands section of the private nature preserve.
The gray skies contrasted the still dark green duck weed covered ponds.
There was still a large flock of wood ducks on the ponds, and, as usual, they flew off as soon as I approached.
I drove into the wetlands, and, after parking my Jeep walked down to the Susquehanna River. The river was even lower than my last visit, when it was as low as I had ever seen it.
I walked down the river bank and along the rocky exposed ground.
I left the river and hiked into the wetlands. The first thing I noticed again was the silence. Like the pervious week I heard no birds, insects or frogs. I also noticed more hints of Fall colors in the shrubs and trees along the trail.
And, I also saw another sign of the changing season, the many Fall wildflowers now blooming along the trail including calico asters,
and goldenrod flowers, all native to Pennsylvania.
I also saw a few of these delicate pink dew flowers, this is an invasive species.
The fern in the wetlands were now mostly brown and yellow, this is a sensitive fern.
The the fragrant aroma of the now yellow hay-scented ferns along the trail filled the cool morning air.
As I walked toward the Water Fowl Pond that I had visited on the entrance road I saw a great blue heron and a pair of great white egrets fly overhead. Unfortunately they flew too fast for me to get any photos. Near another small pond and wetland I heard the cheerful song of a Carolina wren. There were a few of them singing and chattering in the reeds and shrubs in the wetland.
Here I also saw a few swamp sparrows,
a female northern cardinal and,
a large flock of white throated sparrows. The white throated sparrows are migrating from their northern breeding territories and many will reside here in the Winter.
I approached the Water Fowl Pond
and saw the large flock of wood ducks now on the opposite side of the pond, where I was earlier.
A few swam close enough to get some photos.
I left the Water Fowl Pond and walked toward the River Lands area of the nature preserve, about a mile away. I stopped at the pond and wetland again and saw a lot more bird activity in the reeds and shrubs . In addition to the sparrows and wrens I saw earlier, I also saw a few American goldfinches,
a flock of black-capped chickadees,
a female red-winged blackbird,
and an eastern phoebe. Only the black-capped chickadees,
and this red-bellied woodpecker I saw on a treetop will also remain in the wetlands in the Winter.
I continued my hike toward the river lands, stopping at the pond and marsh along the access road that separates the woodlands from the wetlands. Here, I again saw the small group of wood ducks that have been here for the past few months.
I love seeing the colorful males like this one perched on a log.
Wood ducks nest in and can perch in trees. They are short distance migratory birds and will remain on open waters in our area in the Winter. However, most Winters, they leave the wetlands when ice begins to form on the ponds and canals.
I left the colorful wood ducks and walked into the river lands and along Lake Took-A-While.
There were not many insects active now, I heard a few crickets but I saw a few eastern bumblebees on the blue wood asters blooming along the trail.
A few turkey vultures soared over the lake in the overcast skies, and
I heard, then saw this belted kingfisher perched on a tree branch, and
then flew across the lake, chattering loudly as it did.
As usual I walked to the other end of the lake. Once again I didn’t see the large flock of Canada geese that have been on the lake all Summer. They may have already started their migration south., or they could be feeding in the farm fields that surround the lake and wetlands.
I began my hike back to the wetlands,
and the only other birds I saw were a few noisy blue jays. Here is a link to a gallery on my blog website with more photos of the birds I saw on my hike in the wetlands and river lands. Susquehanna Wetlands birds September 29 2024.
I walked back into the wetlands, and,
I noticed these mushrooms, I believe this is a resinous polypore,
and this I believe is a platterful mushroom, a mushroom usually found in early Spring. As I walked under the cloudy skies in the quiet wetlands I reflected at how quickly another Summer had passed.
It seems like only yesterday I was anxiously waiting for the first skunk cabbages to appear at the end of Winter. Now, it is only a few months until I again will be waiting for their appearance and another Spring Ans Summer, my favorite seasons. However, I don’t want them to come too quickly, it means another year in my life has passe, and I know I am now approaching the end of the years I have left. Well, God willing I hope I can continue to share the beauty I find in nature on my hikes and share them here in my blog. Here is a link to a gallery on my blog website with more photos from my five mile hike in the wetlands and river lands. Susquehanna Wetlands September 29 2024
“Poetry is a sky dark with a wild-duck migration.”
— Carl Sandburg
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