Despite The Cold, Spring Peepers, Tree Swallows And A Yellow Rumped Warbler At The Susquehanna Wetlands.

We had mild weather here  in Northeastern Pennsylvania last week.  We had   near record breaking temperatures  around  70  degrees.  I  heard the spring peepers and  saw my first robin in my back yard  in Hazle Township, Luzerne County.   Spring peepers are small, tree climbing frogs that are heard but seldom seen. They are native to, and very abundant,  here in Pennsylvania. Their chorus is one of my favorite sounds.  It is a sure sign of Spring. I was hoping to hear them ,  and, try  see at least one, on my weekend hikes.  (this is my  only photograph of these elusive frogs, and it ws taken in October).

However the fickle March weather didn’t co-operate.    A cold front arrived Friday and it was a clear and cold 20 degrees when I went for my morning walk in my neighborhood. I was sure the frigid temperatures would end any chance I had of hearing the spring peepers, other frogs and maybe even  my first turtle of the year.  I was sure these cold blooded critters would not be active in the freezing temperatures.  I was planning on visiting a nature preserve in Schuylkill County, Frog Hollow, ( that will be my next blog) but decided to return to my favorite preserve the Susquehanna Wetlands in Luzerne County.

 It was about 25 degrees with mostly clear skies when I arrived at the ponds near the access road to the wetland.  The gate on the access road was still closed so I started  my hike  near the ponds. I didn’t see any ducks or geese on the ponds. Usually I scare off a few wood ducks . I did see two red tailed hawks fly overhead but wasn’t able to get a photo.

I walked  into the wetlands on the access road,

seeing only this northern flicker on the 1/2 mile walk.

The trees along  the trail were still brown and bare. The only green were the garlic mustard,

and Dame’s rocket leaves. that, although curled up from the freezing temperatures, were still green.

I walked  to the parking lot,

and took my usual hike down to the banks of the Susquehanna River. It was still high and flowing fast from the snow melt and recent rains.

I love seeing the ancient trees along the banks of this ancient and historic river. It is older than the surrounding mountains and one of the oldest rivers on the planet.

I didn’t hear or see the eastern phoebe, or any birds as I entered the wetlands

I did see the first hints  of color on the red maple trees along the trail.

And, there were wood ducks on the ponds and canals , but they flew off before I could get a photo.

I was able to get some photos of the flock of ring neck ducks  on the ponds along the trail. This is a male,

and these females. These ducks  are not as skittish as the wood ducks and usually stay around long enough for me to  get  photos.

The pair of Canada geese were nearby , honking loudly as I approached their nesting area.

I walked through the wetlands to the Water Fowl pond where I hoped to see some wood ducks.  They weren’t any nor were there any other water fowl on the pond. Although there wasn’t much wildlife activity I was  enjoying the brilliant, warm March sunshine.

I began my hike toward the river lands, walking past the  quickly growing skunk cabbages.

On the way I also began to hear, and see the male red-winged blackbirds singing their familiar songs on the tree tops.

There were now  many American robins,

and this eastern bluebird  along the trail.

As I continued on my walk I was surprised to hear a few spring peepers despite the still chilly morning air. It is one of my favorite sounds.

I walked back down to the river  where I saw few wood ducks on the water but they quickly flew off. I followed the trail along  the river, 

and into the fields  on the new trails that were made last Summer.

Walking back along this canal I saw pair of wood ducks and a great blue heron right in front of me, but they flew  off before I could get photos.

As  I approached the river lands area of this private nature preserve I saw a few swamp sparrows,

and my first warbler of the year, a yellow rumped warbler. They are not long distance migrants and  are usually the first warblers to arrive. I am anxiously awaiting the return of their many colorful cousins.

I crossed an access road and walked into the river lands,

and along  Lake Took-A-While.

I always hope  to see a bald eagle here.  I haven’t seen any for a few weeks now. They will probably become more active when the new eaglets arrive and need to be fed with the fish in  the lake.  I have also  seen great blue herons, belted kingfishers and many species of water fowl on this scenic lake,

On Saturday I only saw a large flock of double crested cormorants swimming on deep blue waters of the lake.

Some were also  flying  on and off,

and over the lake,

I also saw dozens of trees  swallows that have returned and were feeding on a hatch of insects over the lake.

There were a few families fishing along the lake.  I walked to the end of the lake,

before I began my hike back to the wetlands. The strong March warmed the cool morning air.

And when I walked into the wetlands it aroused some of the spring peepers and wood frogs. I loved the sound of their chorus. Here is link to video of the spring peepers  I uploaded to my YouTube channel . https://youtube.com/shorts/2q-5-OScZhg?si=oe_Q0YypYf0qi3H-

I walked through the wetlands,

seeing some more mature skunk cabbages.

I also saw a few birds  another eastern blue bird,

and this hairy woodpecker.  Here is a  link to gallery  on my blog web-page with some more photos of the birds I saw on my 5 mile hike. Susquehanna Wetlands birds March 28 2026. 

And, as I was finishing   my 5 mile hike my first painted turtle enjoying the morning sunshine. This was  the 3rd turtle I saw the first two quickly plopped into the ponds before I could get a any photos.

Although it felt warm in the sun, there was still a cold northwesterly wind and temperatures remained in the 30’s. This was below average, but it didn’t matter  Spring was here and the flora and fauna were coming back to life. Here is a  link to gallery  on my blog web-page with some more photos from  my 5 mile hike. Susquehanna Wetlands  March 28 2026.

“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.” – Charles Dickens, Great Expectations