Finally A Sunny May Afternoon And A Hike At The Susquehanna Wetlands

It’s has been a cool and rainy month of May here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Last Friday we finally got a break in the clouds and some sunshine. I took advantage of the rare  May sunshine  this year and drove to the Susquehanna Wetlands in Salem Township, Luzerne County.

The access gate was finally open and I drove to the parking lot.  It was around 2 p.m. when I began my hike on the lush green canopy of new leaves on the large oak, maple and sycamore trees.

The afternoon sunshine filtered through the trees.

In addition to the  lush green foliage many wildflowers bloomed along  the trail.  There were both pink,

and white Dame’s rocket flowers,

Philadelphia fleabane flowers,

Arrowwood flower, 

and  blue flag flowers adding color to the already colorful greens in the wetlands.

It was mid afternoon and there is usually not a lot of wildlife activity this time of day but I did see a few duckweed  covered  painted turtles enjoying the sunshine, and

a few birds still active in the  mid day sun, including a few colorful yellow warblers,

a red-eyed vireo ,

a female American redstarts

a few song sparrows, and,

 cedar waxwings.

I walked to the Water Fowl Pond.   A few cumulus clouds formed in the clear skies. I usually see some ducks, geese or herons on the ponds . There were none of these birds in Friday afternoon and no more song birds in the trees along the trail either.

I left the pond and, as I walked toward the river lands area of the private nature preserve   more dark  clouds  formed in the mostly clear skies.

The dark storm  clouds contrasted the lush green leaves on the trees in the wetlands.

There were more flowers blooming along the trail including  honey locust and

 multiflora rose flowers.

Tiny grapes had formed on the wild grape vines and

blackberry flowers bloomed on the blackberry brambles. These fruits will provide food for the migratory birds before they began their long journeys south in the late Summer.

The  storm clouds passed as I walked in the river lands,

and along the shores of Lake Too-A-While.  The late May sun felt good.

I saw a couple of green herons along the lake and watched as they would wade in the shallow waters along the shore,

before flying  a few hundred feet to resume their wading and foraging for fish and frogs.

One flew over one of the Canada geese swimming on the lake.

The lake reflected  blue skies and cumulus clouds floating in the blue sky.

I saw a few more birds along the lake including Baltimore orioles,

gray catbirds

and American robins.

I also saw this common grackle in the reeds along the lake,

and this family of Canada geese swimming on the lake.

The goslings are growing up fast.    These would be the last birds I’d see on my 4 mile hike.   Here is a link to a gallery on my blog website with some more photos of the birds I saw on my hike. Susquehanna Wetlands birds  May 23 2025

I was walking faster than my normal pace since I wanted to watch my nephews tee baseball game scheduled for 5:30 p.m.As I began my hike back to the parking lot in the wetlands more storm clouds appeared in the  northwestern sky.  

I did see a few critters on my hike back including this eastern chipmunk and

this white tail deer.

A light shower began as I finished my hike.

It rained harder as I drove to the baseball field where my great nephews were gong to play.  Unfortunately the game was canceled because of the rain.   I was disappointed but I was also glad I was able to get some hiking in in the bright May sunshine, it been scarce this year. Here is a link to a gallery on my blog website with some more photos  from   my hike. Susquehanna Wetlands May 23 2025.

“Is the spring coming?” he said. “What is it like?”… “It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine.”    Frances Hodgson Burnett