Despite The Cold It Is Spring. Just Ask The Geese

We have had an unusually cold spring this year in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It snowed three days this past week here in Hazle Township. Temperatures were below freezing every morning .  Not a good welcome home from my Florida trip. I drove to the PPl Wetlands this morning to see how the cold was affecting the trees and wildlife.

The effects of the cold could be seen on the trees. Most of the trees showed no signs of life. Only the red maples and witch hazel were budding.

The wildlife was a different story.  The wetlands were now filled with the melodies of the song birds including this yellow rumped warbler.

I saw another, and got a better picture of why  it is called a yellow rumped warbler. 

There were also wood ducks

and common mergansers on the ponds.

And, much to my surprise the two geese that were nesting along the trail have a family!

The cold didn’t affect their eggs and they were proudly swimming with their new family. 

It was a mostly sunny day and the strong April sun warmed up the cold morning air. The logs, banks and rocks of the wetlands were soon covered in turtles. 

I walked through the wetlands seeing many birds including this ruby crowned kinglet,

a red bellied woodpecker, 

and a flicker.

I walked to the river lands section of the preserve and found usually quiet Lake Took-A-While crowded with fishermen (and fisherwomen), walkers, and picnickers. It was nice to smell the charcoal fires again. 

The was a flock of double-breasted cormorants on the lake. 

They quickly took off when I approached. 

I also saw a great  blue heron, a belted kingfisher and this cedar waxwing. Here is a link to some more photos of the many birds I saw on my hike. PPL Wetlands birds April 21 2018.

It was nice to know that the cold and snow that causes so much misery for us humans really didn’t affect the wildlife in the wetlands. 

On my return hike I again walked past the many skunk cabbages sprouting throughout the wetlands. 

And I was again pleasantly surprised to find the trout lilies in bloom. It may be colder than normal but it is still Spring. And nature knows it. Here is a link to some more photos from my hike today. PPL Wetlands April 18 2018. 

There is something of the marvelous in all things of nature.  Aristotle