photography
Can It Be July Already? Another Hike In The Susquehanna Wetlands
It was Saturday morning and, even though I had many great places to hike here in Northeastern Pennsylvania, I was going to the Susquehanna Wetlands in Salem Township, Luzerne County. It seems I always find something interesting here. I was still amazed at my trifecta sighting of a bald eagle, belted kingfisher and wood ducks…
Read MoreEurope Day Eleven: Hungary. My Last Hike In Hungary In The Quaint And Green Town Of Vecses
It didn’t take me long after checking into the Airport Hotel near the Budapest Airport to head out and explore the nearby neighborhood. I was considering resting in my room , editing some photos and packing for my return flight early the next morning. But I was in Hungary and decided to take one last hike…
Read MoreNo Bears, Again, But Another Nice, And Historic Hike In The State Game Lands In Dennison Township
My desire and mission to see and photograph a black bear continued on Monday. I decided to hike in State Game Lands 119 in Dennison Township Luzerne County. I have seen many bears hiking here over the years. But so far not a one on about five hikes this year. I was hoping that would…
Read MoreWood Ducks, A Kingfisher And A Bald Eagle, Again, Another Great Hike in the Susquehanna Wetlands
I returned to the Susquehanna Wetlands on Saturday, once again hoping to observe some cool critters to share here on my blog and social media. I always loved hiking and now it is even more enjoyable being able to share photos and reflections from my hikes, . Two weeks ago I saw wood ducks, a…
Read MoreAnother Hike In State Game Lands 119 And On The Black Diamond Trail In Luzerne County.
I know I am getting boring. With so many wonderful places to hike in Northeastern Pennsylvania, I returned to State Game Lands 119 and the Black Diamond Trail in Luzerne County on Sunday morning. I like hiking here since I know the trails and I have seen many black bears on my previous hikes. here…
Read MoreDragonflies, Butterflies And Bees At Lake Irena And Community Park.
I returned to Community Park in Hazle Township, Luzerne County a couple of times these past two weeks. I took my usually three mile afternoon hike around Lake Irena and into the surrounding woodlands. No eagles or bears but a lot of bees, butterflies and dragonflies. The was nice Summer weather for all of my…
Read MoreBirds And A Bobcat, Yep, A Bobcat, At The Susquehanna Wetlands in Luzerne County
I always thought I had seen a bobcat or two on my many miles of hiking in the woods of Northeastern Pennsylvania over the years. However, I was never quite 100% sure. The critters I suspected of being a bobcat always ran quickly into the woods leaving me with some doubt. It looked like a…
Read MoreNo Bears And Not Many Birds But Still Another Nice Hike In State Game Lands 119
I was still excited and elated from my surprise and unexpected encounter with the bobcat in the Susquehanna Wetlands on Sunday morning. It was such a beautiful animal. And I was so fortunate to see and photograph this usually seclusive critter. I decided to search for another one of my favorite Pennsylvania mammals in State…
Read MoreMushroom Season Begins, A Mushroom Hike And, Surprisingly, I Found Some Mushrooms!
Mid July is usually the start of mushroom season here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I have been picking edible wild mushrooms since I was around three years old. My dad taught us how to pick and identify “red top’ and “cozie” mushrooms. They are two species of bolete mushrooms. We would spend many wonderful hours over…
Read MoreSummer Heat , Cicadas and Cicada Killer Wasps At The Susquehanna Wetlands.
Summer is at it’s peak here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. And this year it has produced some mid-Summer heat. Temperatures reached 90 degrees this past week. As usual, I decided to make my weekly visit to the Susquehanna Wetlands and River Lands in Salem Township Luzerne County. I was still excited from my sighting of the…
Read MoreA Sunny And Hot Hike On The Greater Hazleton Rails To Trails
The heat wave continued here in Northeastern Pennsylvania on Sunday. Temperatures would reach 90 degrees again. I decided to stay close to home and hike on the local Greater Hazleton Rails to Trails in Hazle Township, Luzerne County. I took my usual 2 mile early morning walk in my neighborhood and then drove to the…
Read MoreSummer Heat, Insects, Wildflowers And A Few Birds At Community Park
Summer is at it’s peak here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. And we experienced a Summer heat wave this past week with temperatures reaching 90 degrees. I was able to get out to the Community Park, located a short distance from my home in Hazle Township Luzerne County, for a 3 mile walk on most weekday afternoons. …
Read MoreA Last Minute Decision, And My First Visit To Beautiful Ohiopyle State Park
I awoke Friday morning thinking about hiking somewhere different this weekend. For years I have heard about the beauty of Ohiopyle State Park. Many of my friends who hike and enjoy the outdoors told me it was one of their favorite state parks. It is located in Fayette County in the Laurel Highlands of Southwestern…
Read MoreCucumber Falls And A Hike On The Great Gorge Trail In Ohiopyle State Park
The skies were clear on Summit Mountain when I awoke early Saturday morning on my recent visit to the Laurel Highlands in Southwestern Pennsylvania. However, there was a thick fog in the valley below the Summit Inn were I was staying. I drove into the thick fog on my way to the Ohiopyle State Park …
Read MoreA Hike On The Jonathan Run And Allegheny Passage Trails In Ohiopyle State Park
The skies were mostly clear and it was a cool 57 degrees when I awoke at the Historic Summit Inn in the Laurel Highlands on Sunday. I had a great day at Fallingwater and the Ohiopyle State Park with my niece Cassidy on Saturday. I wanted to get one more hike in the park before…
Read MoreHazy, Hot And Humid, A Mid-Summer Hike At The Susquehanna Wetlands
It’s hard to believe it is mid-Summer already. July passed like the wink of an eye, for me anyway. It is August, and although the Summer is half over , we had an old fashioned heat wave this past week, with temperatures soaring into the 90’s here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I decided to hike in…
Read MoreA Hike On The Spirit Of Tuscarora Trail At Tuscarora State Park
I decided to hike on the Spirit of Tuscarora Trail in Tuscarora State Park last Sunday. There was a mushroom festival going on nearby so I was going to get in a five mile hike and then visit the festival. Located in Schuylkill County, and first opened in 1971, the Tuscarora State Park is named…
Read MoreAugust Arrives With Some Heat, Clouds And Critters At Community Park.
August arrived with a mid-summer heat wave here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Temperatures soared into the 90’s. The humidity levels made it feel tropical. I love the heat and I continued my afternoon hikes at the local Community Park near my home in Hazle Township, Luzerne County . And I continued my usual routine of walking…
Read MoreA Morning Hike At Hopewell Lake In French Creek State Park
I awoke early on Friday during my stay at the historic Inn at St. Peters Village in Chester County. And, after a cup of coffee, I decided to hike around Hopewell Lake in nearby French Creek State Park. After a 10 minute drive through beautiful farm country I arrived at the lake shortly after sunrise. …
Read MoreA Cool But Pleasant Mid- August Hike in The Susquehanna Wetlands
A cold front arrived in Northeastern Pennsylvania last weekend and it was a cool 57 degrees when I returned to the Susquehanna Wetlands in Luzerne County early Sunday. morning. It was mostly sunny with a few wispy cirrus clouds in the blue sky. As usual I walked down to Susquehanna River. It was even lower…
Read MoreA Visit To The Daniel Boone Homestead And A Walk Along French Creek.
After my late breakfast at the Sunset Diner in Birdsboro, Berks County, I continued my exploration of the historic area by visiting the nearby Daniel Boone Homestead. As I child I watched the popular television show about Daniel Boone. I remember reading an article about his homestead in the Reading Eagle when I was in…
Read MoreExploring Early American Industrial History At The Hopewell Furnace In Berks County
I was hiking on the Lake Loop Trail around Hopewell Lake in the French Creek State Park last Friday morning when I left the trail and ventured into the Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. It is only a short distance from the lake. I had been here once before. I loved hiking through this scenic…
Read MoreA Hummingbird, A Monarch Butterfly And Lot More Critters At The Susquehanna Wetlands.
The heat was returned to Northeastern Pennsylvania this weekend. After a few chilly mornings temperatures were back in the mid 60’s Saturday morning. As usual, I decided to hike in the Susquehanna Wetlands and River Lands in Salem Township, Luzerne County. I have come to know, and love, almost every inch of the trails in…
Read MoreAnother Hike Around Scenic Hopewell Lake In French Creek State Park
I returned to Hopewell Lake in French Creek State park early Saturday morning on my recent visit to Southeastern Pennsylvania. It was a lot cooler then the previous day when I arrived shortly after sunrise, temperatures were in the mid 50’s. A mist had formed on the lake. making for some beautiful scenery. The almost…
Read MoreNot Much Wildlife But A Lot Of Wildflowers On A Hike At The Greater Hazleton Rails To Trails
I had a lot of chores to do, and there was an Eagles preseason game on at 1 p.m., so I decided to hike early and close to home last Sunday. It was overcast and a mild 67 degrees when I arrived at the Hazle Brook Road entrance to the Greater Hazleton Rails to Trails. …
Read MoreWildflowers, Herons And A Cool Spider: Another Hike In The Susquehanna Wetlands And River Lands
It was Saturday, and, it is almost a ritual now, I decided to hike in the Susquehanna Wetlands and River Lands in Salem Township, Luzerne County. It has been ten years since I first hiked in this private nature preserve. The woodlands near my home in Hazle Township, where I hiked since I was a…
Read MoreStill No Bears In The State Game Lands 119 In Luzerne County
I decided to hike in State Game Lands 119 in Dennison Township Luzerne County again on Sunday. This is the first Summer in ten years I haven’t seen a bear on my hikes in theses game lands. I don’t usually hike here this late in the Summer. I am usually looking for mushrooms in other…
Read MoreMy First Hike In Tobyhanna State Park In Monroe County And No Bears Here Either
Well I didn’t hike in the Susquehanna Wetlands this past Saturday. I changed my usual routine. Instead, I hiked in Tobyhanna State Park. Located in Monroe County it is about 55 miles from my home in Luzerne County. It was my first hike in this park. My pursuit of the elusive black bears brought me there. …
Read MoreAn Early September Hike In The Susquehanna Wetlands
September is usually the peak of mushroom season here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I would be out foraging for my favorite edible mushrooms most September weekends. Not this year. We had little rain this Summer and there have been hardly any of my favorite wild mushrooms growing in our woodlands. So I decided to once again…
Read MoreWildlife And Wildflowers: Late Summer Hikes In Community Park
It’s hard to believe Summer is almost over. The month of August went so fast. It was a busy month for me but I still managed to get in a few afternoon hikes in the Community Park near my home in Hazle Township, Luzerne County. I just hadn’t had time to share some of the…
Read More