Fog, Ice, Geese, Ducks And Spring Peepers, At The Susquehanna Wetlands.

After seeing the ice on the lake and ponds at Middle Creek in Lancaster County last Saturday I was expecting to see some more  ice on the ponds in the Susquehanna Wetlands when I visited on Sunday. And I did,  with some more heavy  fog. The thick  fog shrouded the mostly  frozen  ponds near the access road. It was a mild, for March, with a temperature of 45 degrees. It was warm all week.  But the  ice was thick from the frigid Winter we had here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. 

So there still were no ducks or geese on the ponds.   I miss seeing them fly off as I approach on my hikes.  But  I am predicting I will see them  on my next visit. There were, however, signs of Spring  throughout my 5 mile hike in the wetlands.   I walked to the access road, which is still gated for the Winter,

and saw this  male  northern cardinal singing loudly in the fog in  tree tops.  The male cardinals sing in the tree tops  to attract a mate, a sure sign of Spring.

I walked on the access road to the parking lot,

seeing both the   bright green garlic mustard and

Dames’s rocket plant leaves  in the fog.  These  edible invasive species are some of the first plants to appear in the Spring.

I walked down to the Susquehanna River. The fog  was so thick you couldn’t see the other side of the river.

Here I saw a couple of mallard ducks fly up the river in the fog, another sign of the approaching Spring.

I entered the wetlands, and,  while walking along the canals  on the Beaver  Trail, the sun began   to slowly burn through the fog . The  canals were still mostly frozen,

but some of  the ponds and canals now had areas of open water.  

including  the Water Fowl Pond.

Here I saw a flock of ducks, that quickly flew off as I approached.  I am not sure, but  I think they were  canvas back ducks.

There was also another sure sign of Spring, the first spider webs  of the years covered in the fog. The appearance of the spider webs means there are other flying  insects active too. And the appearance of the insects means the migratory birds will  soon appear.  The wetlands are awakening!

As usual I now walked toward the river lands  area of this small nature preserve, about a mile from the Water Fowl Pond. Much of the fog burned off.

On the way I saw a few more signs of Spring, the skunk cabbages continued to sprout.

 I saw some  ring-necked ducks,

and this pair of nesting Canada geese on some open water on the canals.

A  muskrat was also swimming in the now open waters. 

I wasn’t seeing any of our year long resident bids, the sparrows, woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees as I walked back down to the Susquehanna River.

At the river I saw some more mallards, and a few wood ducks swimming in the fast flowing waters.

 I  love  seeing  these  colorful ducks that will soon  be building nest in the tree trunks in the wetlands.

I walked along the river and followed the new trails into the  abandoned farm fields,

here I saw this northern flicker  on a tree trunk.

I continued toward the river lands,

and saw another sign of Spring. a pair of  eastern blue birds gathering nesting material.

And I know heard one of my favorite, and a sure sign of the end of Winter, the first sounds of the spring peeper and wood frogs. This song is a delight to my ears and a signal the long, cold and dark Winter is ending. I love hearing the spring peepers every year.

The cheerful song of a pair of Carolina wrens also filled the morning air.

I walked into the river lands,

and along Lake Took-A-While.  Some portions of the lake had open water,

while others were parts were  still frozen solid.

I walked to the end of the lake and began my hike back to my Jeep under the cloudy skies. 

The red-winged blackbirds were singing throughout my hike and I was finally able to photograph  a few in the trees  along the lake.

When I returned to the wetlands I again heard the first wood frogs and spring peepers.

I also saw this red bellied woodpecker in a tree along the trail,  Here is a link to a gallery on my blog web-site with some more photos of the birds that I saw on my 5 mile hike in the wetlands. Susquehanna Wetlands birds March 8 2026.

I finished my 5 mile hike under the cloudy skies. It was nice to see life returning to thee wetlands. The calender shows  Spring begins on March 20 however,  I believe  in nature Spring begins on March 1. No matter the whether, snow or cold, the critters and plants in the wetlands and other woods in Northeastern Pennsylvania will stir and sprout. I  look forward to watching it unfoldevery day.Here is a link to a gallery on my blog web-site with some more photos from  my 5 mile hike in the wetlands. Susquehanna Wetlands  March 8 2026.

“By March, the worst of the winter would be over. The snow would thaw, the rivers begin to run, and the world would wake into itself again.”
— Neil Gaiman