Flowers, Ferns, And A Few Feathered Friends On A Fall Hike At The Susquehanna Wetlands

Fall doesn’t start for two more weeks on the astronomical calendar. However, on the meteorological calendar it began September 1. ( meteorological calendar Summer is June , July and August, Fall is September, October, and November). And there were plenty of signs of Fall on my five mile hike in the Susquehanna Wetlands on Saturday.   I returned to the wetlands, situated along the banks of the Susquehanna River here in Luzerne County in Northeastern Pennsylvania, after my visit to Havre de Grace the previous week. Havre de Grace is where the Susquehanna  River ends in 400 mile  course and enters the Chesapeake Bay.

As usual I first stopped at the Water Fowl ponds near access road entrance to the trail head parking lot. It was overcast and seasonably cool when I arrived around 8 am.   There were some hints of yellow in the woodlands around the deep green duck weed covered ponds.

The wood ducks were still here, sitting on a log,

but quickly flying off when the noticed me.

It was very quiet along the shore of the ponds. No birds were singing, not a red -eyed vireo , or warbler and not even the Carolina wrens and gray catbirds I usually hear here. There were many signs of  meteorological  Fall,  including bright red fruit on the spicebushes and

black walnuts strewn on the ground.

I drove  to the parking lot in the wetlands and walked down to the ancient Susquehanna River. It was very low and it’s rocky river bed was exposed. I often reflect on the river, form it’s origin in beautiful Lake Ostego, New York,  and it]s end in the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. I often think about the people who traveled on, or along it, the Native Americans, the early explorers , the first  settlers, and the folks who worked  the canal boats and railroads . I now thought about the people who lived on the Stepping Stone Farm I visited   above the Susquehanna near Havre de Grace .  They would see the river from their farm all seasons. I have come to  love this river and its history.

I left the river and walked into the wetlands, again seeing some hints yellow and brown in the still mostly green foliage.

Again, the signs of Fall were everywhere. .The bracken ferns were  brown and withered ,

and the sensitive ferns ,

cinnamon ferns , and,

hay-scented ferns were also beginning to change color and wither.

Only the. Christmas ferns kept their lush green Summer colors and would remain green most of the Winter.

There were not as many wildflowers as there are in Spring and early Summer but a few Fall flowers bloomed along the trail including great blue lobelia,

white snake root and

white wood asters.

The native Virgin Bower’s plants had bloomed and produced their interesting seeds and

the invasive nightshade flowers produced their red berries.

Walking along the abandoned canal,

I saw a few wood ducks on a log,

and finally heard some birds singing. a pair of Carolina wrens along the trail. It was a cool morning and there were no insect sounds in the wetlands. I hoped to hear the cicada at least one more time this year.

I walked over to the Water Fowl pond and there were no herons or ducks on its murky waters.

I began my walk to the river lands area of the wetlands, about a mile away,and finally saw an insect , this bee on an arrow vine flower.  

I was surprised, and delighted, to find these edible honey mushrooms growing on an oak tree stump along the trail. We call them  popinkies or stumpies here in the coal region. I harvested  them and added them  to some I found earlier in the day and  had them for dinner. It was an extra special Fall treat I found  at the wetlands.

A few cicadas started to sing and I saw a flock of black-capped chickadees forging in the trees along the trail,

and, is often the case, they were joined by a number of other species of birds including this downy woodpecker,

a female common yellowthroat,

a female chestnut sided warbler, I think,

and a small flock of song sparrows.

I also saw this eastern gray squirrel

and chipmunk. It was the first time since Spring that I didn’t see any turtles on my hike. They are staying below the murky, and now warm, waters in the ponds and canals.

A few more flowers bloomed along the trail including New York iron weed and

jewel weed.

I walked past the many  hay scented ferns growing along the trial. They will soon fill the air with their sweet  fragrance after the first frost.

I then followed  took the new trail cut into old farm fields in the wetlands.

I was hoping to see some of the last insects of the season here. On my last visit I had seen many species of bees, wasps and butterflies feeding on the different species of  goldenrod and other wildflowers blooming along the trail. 

Tall goldenrod,

cutleaf coneflower,

hedge bindweed

and cut leaf teasel  flowers continued to bloom,

but there were  no insects visiting the blooming flowers. The only insect I saw was this Summer azure butterfly.  It was sad, but I may not see any more insects until next Spring.

As  I was leaving the wetlands and entering the river lands area of the private nature preserve rain clouds appeared in the sky.

I walked into the river lands as rain began to  fall.  I walked along Lake Took-A- While in the rain which lasted about 10 minute.s

I began my hike back to the wetlands noticed a few more Fall wildflowers along the lake including evening primrose,

purple loosestripe.

I also saw  a lot of silky dogwood berries along the  canal.

I saw only two more new birds on my hike a noisy gray catbird, and

this house wren.

I did see a few more wood ducks on my return hike. Here is a link to a gallery on my website with some more photos of the birds and wildlife I saw on my 5 mile hike. Susquehanna Wetlands birds and critters September 6 2025.

I  heard a few cicadas as I was finishing my five mile hike in the wetlands.

They may be the last time I hear these insects until next August. I will moss them during our long Winter. I saw a few hickory nuts strewn on the ground as I finished my five mile hike, one last reminder, that, although the calander still said it was Summer,  Nature,  here in Northeastern Pennsylvania, told us it is already Fall. I don’t mind Fall, but I am already dreading what comes next. Soon the wetlands will sleep again, and I will wait for the arrival of the skunk cabbage and Spring peepers.   Here is a link to a gallery on my website with some more photos from   my 5 mile hike. Susquehanna Wetlands  September 6 2025.

“Go, sit upon the lofty hill, And turn your eyes around, Where waving woods and waters wild Do hymn an autumn sound. The summer sun is faint on them— The summer flowers depart— Sit still— as all transform’d to stone, Except your musing heart.”  Elizabeth Barret Browing