Another Summer Is Here, And Another Visit To The Susquehanna Wetlands

It was the second full day of Summer last Sunday. It was supposed to be a beautiful sunny day. I had so many  choices of trails in the  State, county and local parks, forests , game lands and private preserves near my home  which I could hike and explore here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I had planned to explore the Sawmill Trail in the Weiser State Forest or return to  Tank Hollow, both in nearby Carbon County.

But, after waking up, listening to some music and a cup of coffee or two I decided to return to the Susquehanna Wetlands. Why? Because  the woods I hiked  and visited as a childhood and most of my adult life are gone. . On or near the Summer solstice,  for over 40 years,  I would hike out to the Humboldt Reservoir,  3 miles from my home in the Green Ridge section of Hazle Township in Luzerne County. And for over 40 years,  I would hike there on or near the Winter solstice too.

Every New Year’s Day I would walk about a 1/2 mile from my home and hike to the top of a culm bank created from the anthracite coal mines.  Every weekend  or evening after work I’d hike on the tower lines near my home or on Stony Mountain. About 10 years ago   industrial and residential developments destroyed most of the woodlands near  the Humboldt Reservoir. Mine reclamation  flattened the culm banks and woodlands near my home.  And very  recently Stony Mountain is being clearcut for industrial development. Most of the trails I hiked  as a child and for most of my adult life   are gone. I spent countless hours in those woods and  knew every trail , large rock , and  tree on those trails. They are no more. It is sad. So, about 10 years ago I was looking for new places to hike and I found the Susquehanna Wetlands and Riverlands.    I enjoyed the hiking on the  trails under the large,  ancient trees along the  Susquehanna River.  And I loved the diveristy of  plants, and wildlife on  old  canals of the long abandoned North Branch Canal. It  is now my new “go to” hiking spot and so I decided to return last Sunday to begin another Summer. .

It was partly cloudy, warm and humid when I arrived at the wetlands. As usual,  I parked along the two ponds near the entrance road and looked for water fowl.  The waters of the ponds is  now   partially  covered in algae and duck weed, a sure sign Summer is here. .  I didn’t see anything  moving  on the ponds.

And didn’t see the birds I usually see in the woodlands around the ponds.  The only bird I saw was this male American redstart.

I  left the ponds and drove   to the parking area.  Here, as usual, I  walked down to the banks of the ancient  Susquehanna River.  I have come to love this scenic and historic river.  I have learned a lot about the history of the river, and the flora and fauna found herem  since I started hiking here about 10 years ago. 

After watching the river flow I  walked into  the wetlands. There is a  nice trail along the river but I find more wildlife in the wetlands so that is were  I usually hike. 

I followed the Beaver Trail along the old canal. It was quiet here too. There was not much bird activity but I did see this baby  eastern cottontail rabbit.

The trees in the wetlands were now lush and green, as was the waters on the ponds and canals, which were covered in duckweed, a tiny aquatic plant that is the food source of many mammals, birds,  amphibians,  reptiles and insects.

Near one of the ponds I saw this female red winged blackbird,

eating a large dragonfly she captured.

I walked over to  one of the Water Fowl pond,

and here saw at least three families  of wood ducks on the water. The parents quickly ushered the ducklings to the safety of the reeds and other vegetation along  the shore.

It was warm and humid in the wetlands. And, with the many canals and ponds there were a lot of mosquitoes. I am glad I applied a lot of my  favorite insect repellent Ready Ranger. I have used this in rain forests and it really works. Give it a try.  ( And I didn’t get a dime for recommending it).

I also now saw quite a few  more birds as I  hiked through the wetlands on  my one mile walk toward the river lands.

I saw a few song sparrows,

yellow warblers,

this robin who also caught a dragonfly,

a red eyed vireo,

  a female common yellowthroat, and

a  blue-gray gnat catcher.

I also saw some woodpeckers,  3 of the 7 found in Pennsylvania. This is a downy woodpecker,

this a red bellied woodpecker,

and this a northern flicker.

The Spring growing season is over now, and there are not many flowers blooming in the wetlands. These will  probably the last of the Dame’s  Rocket and

Japanese honeysuckle flowers to bloom this year.

I did see, I believe  ,  this  marsh eyed brown butterfly in the wetlands and a lot more mosquitoes.

The once lush skunk cabbage are starting to   decay. This was the first one I saw  popping up in the cold  ground in March.

Some of the flowers I had seen earlier in Spring now produced their fruits, the raspberries were ripening,

the high bush blueberries will be ripening soonand,

the blackberries which  will ripen in August. The Spring passed so quickly, it’s hard to believe it is almost July.

I left the wetlands and walked along an access road where, in the open, I saw the usual Summer flowers blooming along the road, including the  native daisy fleabane flowers,

and the invasive St. John’s Wort.

I walked into the river lands and along Lake Took-A-While. which is actually three connected small lakes. A few folks were fishing along it’s shores.

It was overcast now but still warm and humid.

I saw a few birds along the lake including this warbling vireo,

a few eastern phoebes, red winged blackbirds

and this sinister looking  common grackle,

giving me a sinister stare.

There were also a few families of Canada geese on the lake. Some of  this year’s older gosling were hard to tell from their parents,

but I knew who the parents were when they would hiss at me as I approached their offspring.

The younger  goslings  still had some of their their yellow color.

I walked along the lakewhere  found the milkweed was now flowering, another sign Summer is here.

Hopefully it will attract butterflies, beees, wasps and other insects and , especially, the endangewred monarch butterflies. .

I walked  past Lake Took-A_While and  continued my hike on the Warrior Trail.

The trail follows an abandoned railroad right of way. I had hiked here  more frequently in the past but it has been over a year since I was here. I usually see indigo buntings   on this trail.

I only saw a pair of Carolina wrens on this hike.

I followed the trail for about a  1/2 mile when  I came to a  private pond and picnic along the trail and above the Susquehanna River. I often  thought about the many  Summer parties that  were probably  held here over the years.  I am sure many good memeories were made here.

The trail was grass covered and a little overgrown past the pond. I turned back here.

I walked back along the lake seeing many of the birds I saw earlier, but I did see a few gray squirrels,

and this eastern chipmunk.

And, as I entered the wetlands I saw some more furry critters, this muskrat and here youngster.

Mom slide into the murky waters when I approached, but the little one continued to sit and feed on the duck weed.

Back in the wetlands I saw a few more birds, including  a house finch and,

this colorful yellow throated warbler.  Here is a link to a gallery on my blog web site with some more photos of the birds I saw on my hike. Susquehanna Wetlands birds June 22 2025.

It wasn’t the nicest day,   it was clouidy and I didn’t see any bald eagles, river otters, black bears, red foxes, or snakes, as I have in the past, but I enjoyed the familiarity of the wetlands. I now know these trees, and canals and ponds, and I hope to conintue to visit and enjoy this nature preserve I have come to love. Here is a link to a gallery on my blog web site with some more photos from my seven mile   hike. Susquehanna Wetlands  June 22 2025.

“Dancing days are here again, as the summer evenings grow.” Led Zeppelin