Fall Arrives, But It Felt More Like Summer At The PPL Wetlands

Fall arrived last Friday at 4:02 p.m. here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. But it felt more like summer with temperatures in the mid 80’s. And it was even warmer on Saturday when I decided to hike again in the PPL Wetlands. 

I arrived early as a thick morning fog was just burning off as I walked along the river and under the canopy of leaves of the large ancient trees along the Susquehanna. 

Although the temperatures quickly climbed into the 80’s,  and the trees still donned their summer green leaves, the absence of the sight and sound of the birds, turtles and insects made it obvious Fall was here. 

I saw no birds for almost a mile as I walked under the many oaks, ash and hickory trees along the river. I did see a few chipmunks, and

gray and red squirrels gathering the many nuts and acorns that now covered the ground. 

As I walked away from the river and along the canals and ponds I saw a few wood ducks,

 and a lot more color, as the ferns,  brambles and maple trees were starting to show their fall colors. 

Many of the plants and trees now were laden with berries and fruit. 

And I saw a few of the birds that will remain with us for our long winter, such as the crows and this bluejay, enjoying them. 

I walked over to lake Took=A-While and again found little wild life activity. I did find theses turtles enjoying the late summer sun. 

There were only a few dragonflies darting over the waters, and a few wasps and bee on the wild flowers now in bloom, but theses insects were still enjoying the milkweed pods. 

I also saw quite a few grasshoppers in the now brown and dry grass along the trails.

The hot temperatures me decide to  head back to my car parked  at the wetlands section of the preserve. I didn’t see anything exotic but I enjoyed was the peace and quiet of the woodlands and the often overlooked little things that make nature so wonderful.  Here is a link to some more photographs from my hike in the wetlands.  PPL Wetlands photographs.

“He found himself wondering at times, especially in the autumn, about the wild lands, and strange visions of mountains that he had never seen came into his dreams.” 
― J.R.R. Tolkien,