A Peaceful Easter Sunday Morning At The Susquehanna Wetlands

In the past, Easter Sunday morning always began with a visit to my parents. ( I usually attended the Saturday evening church services). I would share a traditional hard boiled Easter egg with horseradish from the Blessed Easter basket with my dad and mom. Mom and dad are gone now so I spend Easter mornings hiking in the woodlands I love, especially my new favorite hiking area, the Susquehanna Wetlands in Salem Township in Luzerne County.
So I drove to the Susquehanna Wetlands early Easter morning even though I had arrived home late Saturday from my trip to the Florida. It was two weeks since my last visit and I was surprised they still had the gate up on the access road. I had walk into the wetlands. And, as I did, I found there were not many new signs of Spring since my last visit. I saw there were a few more leaves on the mulitflora roses,
blackberry canes. But they did not grow much since my last visit. I heard it was cold while I was gone.
There were not many birds active on the access road on this mostly sunny and seasonably cool morning. ,
I heard and saw a few tufted titmice,
and song sparrows on my walk to the parking lot.
I took my usually walk down to the Susquehanna River,
Near the trailhead I saw one of the eastern phoebe that always nest here.
There was a hint of color on the red maple trees, but otherwise, the trees were still leafless and the wetlands had a wintry look.
Like on my last visits the trails were still flooded,
but I sloshed my way though the cold waters to get to the Water Fowl Pond. I saw a flock of wood ducks but they flew off before I could get any photos.
I started my walk to the river lands section of the nature preserve and saw a few of the usual resident birds,
this great blue heron perched in a tree
and a few Canada geese pairing up to nest in the wetlands.
I also saw a new bird that returned to the wetlands a rusty blackbird.
I walked past the skunk cabbages which did grow a lot since my last visit.
I also saw this fungus witch’s butter growing on a log along the trail.
Clouds moved in as I walked into the river lands I took the trail between Lake took-A-While and the old Susquehanna Canal .
There were some American robins.
red winged blackbirds along the trail.
And, I was glad to see a bald eagle,
perched in a tree across the lake. It is always nice to see these majestic birds but it was a special treat on Easter morning.
I continued my hike along the lake and saw a flock of common mergansers swimming on the waters,
and a lone double crested cormorant joined them.
I walked to the end of the lake under the cloudy skies when I turned around and headed back.
There were only a few folks fishing and walking along the lake.
I walked back into the wetlands where I saw an eastern bluebird,
and another of my favorite birds,
a colorful pileated woodpecker. Here is a link to a gallery on my website with some more photos of the birds I saw on my Easter morning hike. Susquehanna Wetlands birds . March 31 2024
As I was nearing the end of my hike I saw this muskrat feeding in the canal. Although it was cool and cloudy, with few signs of Spring it was still a peaceful hike and a great place to reflect on Easter morning. Here is a link to a gallery on my website with some more photos from my Easter morning hike. Susquehanna Wetlands . March 31 2024
Finally at the end of my hike I found some pussy willows. My mom was raised in the Eastern Orthodox Catholic church and they would use pussy willow branches instead of palms on Palm Sunday. So I would give these to my mom on Palm Sunday, Seeing them brought back many wonderful memories. After my hike I was looked forward to visiting with my family at my niece Kelly and her husband’s home. later in the day.
“Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.” Martin Luther
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