An Early Summer Hike In The Susquehanna Wetlands

 I love the Spring,  it is so welcome after our  long , cold, and dark Winters here in Northeastern Pennsylvania,  but, I love Summer even more.  Both are so full of life and the beauty of nature  is everywhere. But  I have always loved the long, warm days  of Summer since I was a child.  For most of my life I would hike in the woodlands near my home in the carefree days of Summer. First as  a child exploring the woodlands with  my friends,  then, as an adult,  alone, reflecting on life,  foraging for mushrooms or huckleberries or swimming in the ‘stripins”  the abandoned coal strip mines. Unfortunately my childhood playgrounds were developed for industrial and residential uses about a decade ago.  I cried losing these wood lands where so many  wonderful Summer memories took place. So I had to find new areas to  hike and enjoy the beauty of Summer and the other seasons of the year.  And the Susquehanna Wetlands and River Lands has become one of those places. I discovered this nature preserve about a decade ago. and have come  to know and love it’s trails 

It is located  in Salem Township , about a 35 minute drive from my home in Hazle  Township, Luzerne County. It  is actually only about 10 miles from my house as “the crow flies”  So after a two week absence I returned  to hike in these now familiar and woodlands last Saturday.  It was sunny and warm when I arrived,   but, there was  with a thick smoky haze from the  wildfires in Canada. 

After walking down to the banks of the ancient Susquehanna River, I began my hike in the lush green wetlands area of this small private nature preserve. 

While most of the flora is at it’s peak, some of the  first plants we are  so glad to see in early of Spring , like the skunk cabbage ,

and mandrake or May apples are already decaying. 

The signs of Summer where everywhere along the trail, the blackberries and 

blueberries  were starting to ripen .

The black walnut trees along the trail were now laden with developing husks. 

There were not as many wildflowers as in the Spring but some Summer flowers were blooming, including purple loosestrife 

blue vervain growing along the waters in the wetlands and river lands, 

 Philadelphia fleabane

and bull thistle flower made their appearance  along the trails.

As usual, I walked into the wetlands and down to the Waterfowl Pond. 

Here I saw a few song sparrows along the pond, and perched on some branches above the ponds were 

 an eastern kingbird and. 

a northern rough winged swallow , a first sighting of this bird  for me. 

There were a couple of wood ducks on the far side of the pond. 

I walked on the trail  along the canals and ponds in the wetlands,

seeing a few more birds including a swamp sparrow, 

an eastern wood peewee 

a Carolina wren 

and a pileated woodpecker.  I was sneaking up on the pileated woodpecker when I heard a loud voice ask “what kind of  bird is that?”  Needless to say the woodpecker quickly was gone. I answered the young jogger who stopped to learn about this beautiful bird. I was a little unhappy to have missed some photos but I had a nice chat about the pileated woodpecker and other birds that live in  the wetlands. I think it is important to educate folks on how important it is to protect our wetlands and woodlands. 

A few bolete mushrooms, this is an old man of the woods mushroom. 

and spotted wintergreen flowers were also growing along the trail.

As usual I saw a few cottontail  rabbits

and eastern chipmunks on my hike. 

I also saw some  new and cool, an eastern eyed click beetle. feeding on some poison ivy berries.  

I walked into the river  lands area of the nature preserve,

The trail continues between  scenic Lake Took-A-While and the old Susquehanna canal. 

I was hoping to see the bald eagles that  nest near the wetlands but the only birds on the lake were the large flock of Canada geese  in the grass along the shore. 

I began my hike back to the wetlands,

and saw a few  pretty yellow birds including American goldfinches. 

a yellow throated vireo 

and a few yellow warblers.,

and this great crested flycatcher. 

There were also a few  downy woodpeckers,

 blue gray gnatcatchers., 

and this red eyed vireo.

A close up will show why it got it’s name. I love it’s red eyes. Here is a link to a gallery on my website with some more photos of the birds I saw on my five mile hike. Susquehanna Wetlands  birds July 15 2023. 

I experienced another of  my favorite signs of Summer, the songs of the cicadas were once again echoing through the wetlands. I found this sound to be so comforting. I wish I could still hike in the woodlands of my childhood. but only memories remain. I am glad I have found  some new woodlands in our area to replace them and the Susquehanna Wetlands have become one of my favorite hikes, especially on a hot Summer day. Here is a link to a gallery with some more photos from my five my hike .Susquehanna Wetlands July 15 2023. 

“Blessed be the Lord for the beauty of summer and spring, for the air, the water, the verdure, and the song of birds.” 
–  Carl von Linnaeus