Nature
Another Late Afternoon Hike in The Susquehanna Wetlands
After my enjoyable late afternoon hike in the Susquehanna Wetlands last week, I decided to return for another late afternoon hike on Friday. It was partly cloudy and a seasonable 65 degrees when I arrived at the wetlands in Salem Township Luzerne County. It was about 3;30 p.m. The trees were now even more lush…
Read MoreA Couple Of Spring Hikes On The Greater Hazleton Rails To Trails
Spring and Summer are my favorite seasons. I love them both the new growth of Spring and the heat and long days of Summer. . I especially enjoy hiking in the woodlands near my home in Northeastern Pennsylvania in Spring , looking for the wonders of nature that appear during this magical season. . I…
Read MoreAlways A Great View At The Tank Hollow Overlook In Carbon County
For the past few years I have been hiking out to the Tank Hollow Overlook in State Game Lands 141 in Carbon County in June. This is when the mountain laurel bloom and they put on a spectacular display of color. This year I decided hike there a few weeks earlier. I wanted to look…
Read MoreClose Encounters With A Rattlesnake And A Doe And Her Fawn At State Game Lands 141 In Carbon County .
Over the years I have seen many snakes, including rattlesnakes on my hikes here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I would often see them slither away while I was picking huckleberries or mushrooms. Since I got my first digital camera and started photographing wildlife 14 years ago I have photographed water snakes, garter snakes, black rat snakes,…
Read MoreOn The Road Again. First Stop. Alexandria Bay New York.
I write this blog while enjoying a spectacular view of the St. Lawrence River from my hotel room in Alexandria Bay in the Thousand Islands region of upstate New York, I had just spent the afternoon exploring this quaint little tourist town and nearby Wellesley State Park. There was so much to see here, but…
Read MoreA Morning Hike In The Otter Creek Preserve In Alexandria Bay New York
I had another long drive ahead of me when I awoke in Alexandria Bay, New York last Wednesday , the second day of my adventure north. I was on my way to James Bay ( not the Hudson Bay as I thought, and stated, in my last blog post). So , after having a cup…
Read MoreMy Journey North Continued To The Sleepy, Scenic And Historic Town Of Mattawa In Ontario Canada
After my early morning walk in the Otter Creek Nature Preserve in Alexandria Bay New York I was soon on the road again. My next stop was Mattawa in Ontario. It was a 4 1/2 hour drive. I never heard of it before I planned this trip a few weeks ago. I only knew it…
Read MoreA Couple Of Weekend Walks In The Wetlands.
I continued my recent trend of hiking in the Susquehanna Wetlands in Salem Township in Luzerne County late Friday afternoon. It was sunny and warm with I hiked there this past Friday. As usual I walked down to the Susquehanna River, then walked into the wetlands area of this small nature reserve. I was the…
Read MoreA Morning Walk In Historic And Scenic Mattawa, Ontario
It was the 66th year I awoke on our beautiful planet. My birthday was a big event as a child and for most of my adult life. I have had my share of happiness and sadness during those many birthdays more sad than happy these past few years but you, my first time readers can…
Read MoreRattlesnakes, Mountain Laurel And Song Birds In Carbon County
After returning from an exciting and exhausting adventure in northern Canada last Thursday, I decided to Tank Hollow in Carbon County on Saturday and look for rattlesnakes again. I also wanted to see if our State Flower, the mountain laurel was in bloom. It was partly cloudy and cool when I arrived at State Game…
Read MoreAn Early Morning Walk Through Cochrane Ontario And Then Onward North, By Train.
I awoke early my first morning in Cochrane, Ontario. I stayed at the Best Western Swan Hotel for the night. It was right across from the train station. I was excited to be taking Polar Bear Express train to Moosonee later that morning. . And I was talking my Jeep with me. I had to…
Read MoreAnother Day Exploring Remote Moosonee: A Hike On Charles Island And The Old Quarry Road
I awoke a little later than usual in remote Moosonee, Ontario on Sunday morning. It was a long day Saturday, and I slept until 6 a.m. I soon discovered it was mostly cloudy so I didn’t miss the sunrise. After a cup of coffee in my room I was again walking the quiet and dusty…
Read MoreMy Last Day Exploring Moosonee And Moose Factory Ontario
It was a cloudy, cool and windy Monday morning, my last day in remote Moosonee, Ontario. Temperatures were in the low 40’s. I left my hotel in Moosonee and drove back out on the old Quarry Road. It would be my last hike in this northern boreal forest and so far I hadn’t seen any…
Read MoreRemembering Dad On A Father’s Day Hike In The Susquehanna Wetlands
Father’s Day has always a big day in my life. As a very young child I was filled with excitement and anticipation as it approached. My mom and my aunt Mary would always purchase some gifts, usually including Dutch Master or Bering cigars, wrap them, and tell me they were a gift for my dad…
Read MoreBack In Cochrane Ontario , But Only For A Quick Morning Hike.
After my gourmet meal of Frosted Flakes, as noted in my last blog I was soon fast asleep in the small but comfortable room at the Station Inn in Cochrane, Ontario. I stayed here for the night after my five hour train ride from Moosonee on the Polar Bear Express. The Inn is operated by…
Read MoreA Little Too Late To See The Mountain Laurel At It’s Peak On The Greater Hazleton Rails To Trails.
I heard from some friends that our State flower, the mountain laurel, was in full bloom and putting on a beautiful show, along the trails at our local Greater Hazleton Rails to Trails. So last week I decided to take an afternoon hike on the trail to enjoy and photograph the annual display put on…
Read MoreA Couple Of Nature Hikes On The Cranberry Trail In Callander Ontario
After arriving at the Terrace Suites resort in Callander Ontario, I quickly settled in my room. I was eager to explore this resort community overlooking Lake Nipissing. I asked the friendly proprietor about any hiking trails in the area and she recommended the nearby Cranberry Creek Trial. It was a short drive on some rural…
Read MoreMy First Summer Hike This Year At The Susquehanna Wetlands
Summer, my favorite season, arrived last week. The weather wasn’t hazy, hot and humid, the way I like it. In fact it was cool, cloudy and rainy. Saturday was supposed to be a total washout. Rain was predicted for the entire day. I as sure I’d be hiking in rain gear close to home, without…
Read MoreA Summer Hike On The Spirit Of Tuscarora Trail In Tuscarora State Park
I decided to visit nearby Tuscarora State Park last Sunday. It is one of the many state parks and forests that we have near my home here in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and which I don’t visit often enough. I planned to hike the Spirit of Tuscarora Trail and then hike in the meadows along the Locust…
Read MoreAn Unplanned, Long Overdue And Amazing Visit To The Famous And Spectacular Niagara Falls.
Usually, after checking in to a hotel on my travels , I quickly settle in my room and am out the door exploring my new location. But not on my recent visit to Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada. I entered my room on the 11th Floor of the Marriot Fallsview Hotel and I remained there…
Read MoreBack In State Game Lands 141: Another Hike To Tank Hollow.
I had seen a lot of different species of birds on my last couple of hikes to Tank Hollow in the State Game Lands 141 in Carbon County. So , last Saturday I decided to return to the Game Lands for another five mile hike. . It was partly sunny when I parked at the…
Read MoreA Wet And Cloudy Morning Walk At Niagara Falls And A Smokey And Rainy Drive Home.
I slept well after my first visit to the unbelievably beautiful Niagara Falls. It was cloudy when I awoke the next morning. However, the view of the Falls from my window was still mesmerizing. I sat with my coffee and just stared at the beauty below me. I watched as the waters of the Niagara…
Read MoreA Bear, A Hummingbird, Butterflies And A Few Cool Birds At The Greater Hazleton Rails To Trails
Forecasts of cloudy and rainy weather here in Northeastern Pennsylvania the last two weekends kept me close to home. I hiked the local Greater Hazleton Rails to Trails near my home in Luzerne County on both weekends. I was luck, I missed the rain on both of my hikes. . It was cloudy and wet…
Read MoreSummertime Arrives At Community Park In Hazle Township
I have been busy at my office and I haven’t spent as much time as I would would have liked at the Community Park near my home in Hazle Township, Luzerne County this Summer. . Last Summer I was able to take an afternoon hike almost every day . Not this year, I still talk…
Read MoreA Dreary And Cloudy But Enjoyable Hike At Locust Lake State Park
It was cloudy with a chance of rain again last Sunday, not the best weather to photograph wildlife. I decided to hike in Locust Lake State Park, another one of the State Parks near my home in Hazle Township Luzerne County. Locust Lake State Park is located in Ryan Township in Schuylkill County, about 20…
Read MoreA Mid Summer Hike In The Penrose Swamp Barrens Preserve.
Cooler and less humid weather arrived here in Northeastern Pennsylvania last Saturday. It was sunny with temperatures in the mid 50’s, Saturday morning, perfect hiking weather. I decided to hike in the Penrose Swamp Barrens again. It is becoming another one of my favorite hiking trails. The newly acquired 2700 acre tract of pristine woodlands…
Read MoreThe Bittersweet Songs Of The Cicadas Have Begun At The Susquehanna Wetlands.
I returned to the Susquehanna Wetlands in Luzerne County last Sunday. It was a pleasant sunny morning with temperatures in the low 60’s. After I arrived, I walked down to the Susquehanna River, which is my usual routine, and, I was delighted to hear again, the melodic song of a wood thrush. There was only…
Read MoreWildflowers Not Wildlife On This Hike Greater Hazleton Rails To Trails And A Visit To The Nearby Butler Preserve
I stayed close to home on Saturday and hiked on the Greater Hazleton Rails to Trails. I also visited the adjacent pine barrens in the Butler Preserve in Hazle Township, Luzerne County. It was cloudy, warm and humid when I began my hike on the Broad St. entrance to the trail . Temperature were in…
Read MoreEnd Of A July Hike At The Susquehanna Wetlands And A Rare Pennsylvania Sighting Of A Roseate Spoonbill
A cold front passed through Northeastern Pennsylvania Saturday night and I awoke to much cooler temperatures and less humidity Sunday morning. I decided to head back to the Susquehanna Wetlands in Luzerne County to hike in the brilliant morning sunshine. I was the only one there, which, I hoped would mean some good wildlife photo…
Read MoreBees, Butterflies And Birds In The Penrose Swamp Barrens In Carbon County
I returned to the Penrose Swamp Barrens Preserve in Carbon County on Saturday. This 2700 acre tract of wilderness is now a part of the Weiser State Forest. On my hike the previous week I had some issues regarding the ingress to this recently acquired nature preserve. As usual, I parked at a gate on…
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