Fog And Flowers On A Fall Morning Hike In The Susquehanna Wetlands

The sun was rising in clear blue skies when I left my home in Hazleton Township on Sunday morning. I was headed to the Susquehanna Wetland, about 10 miles from my home as the crow flies. I hoped to get some photos of the wood ducks, and maybe even the river otters I had seen the previous week in the early morning sunshine.

However, as I neared the wetlands in Salem Township I saw a blanket of fog  over the Susquehanna River. This was not a good thing for my wildlife photography since the Sony RX 10 iv camera I now carry on my hikes is not good in low light conditions.   I didn’t stop at the ponds near the  access  road due to the fog  and  drove to the parking lot at the trail head to the wetlands. . I walked down the the Susquehanna River and,  because of the fog, I couldn’t even see across the river.

I walked into the wetlands in the thick fog. It was very quiet. I heard no birds or insects.

It was a somber, peaceful walk.

However, when I got to the old canal, I heard the first of a dozen or more wood ducks splashing the water and whistling loudly as they flew off as I approached.I would hear this sound a dozen or more times on my hike. It seemed there were a lot more than the usual number of wood ducks and I believe many were just migrating through the wetlands.

There was more Fall colors on the trees and the hay-scented and bracken ferns were now all brown, yellow and orange providing a nice contrast in the fog.

There were many Fall wildflowers still blooming including many species of native asters, including. common blue wood asters,

calico asters,

panicled asters,

white wood asters,

and one of my favorite Fall wildflowers, New England asters. I never noticed the many species of asters that bloom in our area until I started to photograph them a few years ago.

In addition to the asters, cutleaf  coneflowers,

American burnweed flowers ,

New York ironweed,

common wrinkle-leaved goldenrod flowers and

poisonous snakeroot flowers, all native, bloomed along the trails on my five mile hike.

I walked to the Water Fowl pond . There were no herons or wood ducks that I  could see intoe fog on the pond,

but a pair of northern flickers were perched high on a dead tree branch.

I began my mile hike to the river lands section of the private nature preserve, walking through the thick fog.

I saw one of the many eastern chipmunks I would see on my hike,

and I also saw a few gray squirrels both gathering the fallen acorns, hickory nuts, and black walnuts on the trails. 

Spider webs along the trail glistened in the fog.

I saw a lot more wood ducks too, and I was able to get a few photos , these are females, and this,

more colorful make.

There were also a few mallard ducks on the canals.

I walked through the wetlands,

and also saw a few swamp sparrows,

this Carolina wren and

surprisingly a flock of black throated green warblers. I usually see this solitary birds in the deeper forests on my hikes in the Summer. I have never seen more than one at the time before.

There was about a dozen in this flock.

I also saw a common yellowthroat. Both these species of birds will be migrating south soon.

The thick fog burned off as I neared the river lands. Sunny skies were in the forecast but the clouds persisted.

I walked into the river lands and along the trail between Lake Took-A -While and the old canal.

There were a few fishermen along the lake but the only bird I saw was this lone double crested cormorant.

I also saw a flock of white throated sparrows. They were migrating from their breeding grounds further north and many will remain in the wetlands and river lands in the Winter months.  Here is a link to a gallery on my blog website with some more photos of the birds I saw on my hike in the wetlands. Susquehanna Wetlands birds September 28 2025.

I walked along the lake,

and found these edible field or meadow mushrooms growing in the grass along the trail. I gathered them for a nice meal on Monday.

I walked to the far end of the lake and started my 2 mile hike back to the parking lot in the wetlands.

On the way I saw some fruits and berries growing along the trail including. river grapes,

winterberry holly,

and mile-a minute berries. I believe all of these are native to our area .

There were also invasive oriental bittersweet berries growing near the lake.  These berries will provide food for the birds and other wildlife during the Winter.

It was a quiet walk back to the parking lot. I heard no birds, not even the wood ducks, and no insects were active either.

As I was entering the wetlands the sun finally began to burn off the cloud cover.

By the time I neared the parking lot, of course,  the sun was shining.  I would liked to have stayed and maybe heard  the cicadas for the last time.  However, it was near noon and I had to get home for the Philadelphia Eagles game. As I type the forecast is for temperatures in the mid 70’s this weekend,  I may have one more chance to hear the cicadas, and maybe see the river otters.Here is a link to a gallery on my blog website with some more photos from my  5 hike in the wetlands. Susquehanna Wetlands  September 28 2025.

Scent of dried flowers / And I’m walking through the fog / Walking through the fog / Scent of dried flowers Catherine Marie Warner

Who believe in misty ways. / Everything is lovely, / In a misty morning glaze. / I like misty water, / I like fog and haze.Raymond Douglas Davies