A Thanksgiving Day Hike At Community Park.

Heavy rain was in the forecast for Thanksgiving Day this year. This is not the worst forecast this time of year. I have experienced many Thanksgivings with snow on the ground here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. And it did rain in the morning. However, it cleared up around 11 a.m. and the sun was shining and temperatures were in the 50’s by noon. 

Our usual family Thanksgiving Day get together was canceled this year because of the covid-19 virus so I decided to take a walk out our local Community Park. 

It was as good of a day as we get here in November. The waters of Lake Irena reflected the deep blue skies. 

It was windy as I walked around the lake but still pleasant with the unseasonably warm temperatures.  There were no geese or duck on the lake but I saw this bird along the trail. I am pretty sure it is a female goldfinch, but I  incorrectly identified  a yellow-rumped warbler as a pine siskin in my last blog post. Sorry. 

The trees along the trails have lost there leaves. The only green are the leaves and needles of the mountain laurel and pine trees

and some teaberries,

and the endangered Hartford or American climbing fern.  

The only other ferns in the park , the bracken fern have  turned brown weeks ago, .

As I began my return hike a hawk, I think it was a red-tailed hawk,  flew overhead. 

I also saw this lone pied-billed  grebe swimming in the lake. 

The wind increased and brought in some clouds as I made my way back along the lake. 

Near the bridge where the creek that feeds the lake enters, 

I again saw the goldfinch perched in the same tree. 

This was the last critter I would see on my three mile hike. I know I won’t see much wildlife on these  late Fall and Winter walks, and the insects and flowers are gone too, but I still enjoy the scenery and the peace and quite of Penn’s woods. I am very thankful for these and all my walks in our beautiful world. Here is a link to a gallery with more photos from my Thanksgiving Day walk. Community Park hike November 26 2020. 

He found himself wondering at times, especially in autumn, about the wild lands…
– J.R.R. Tolkien

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