I’m Glad I Took My Camera; A Walk On The Greater Hazleton Rails To Trails

It was raining Sunday morning. The forecast called for rain all day. I decided to stay close to home and hike our local Rails to Trails. 

I wore my rain gear and was going to walk without my camera because of the steady  rain. As I was leaving my car I decided to grab my camera. I was glad   I did. I had only walked a  short distance  when I saw this prairie  warbler  fluttering in the scrub oak trees along the trail. 

It seemed like it didn’t notice me in the rain and flew  to  a nearby tree. It provided a beautiful contrast to the dark rainy weather. 

 I continued my  walk and headed  into the pine barrens that are located near the trail.  I was hoping to see some more migrating birds in  this pine, birch and scrub oak woodlands. Last year I saw a number of species of warblers in this patch of woods. This year  I didn’t see a single bird. 

It was still a nice walk among the trees now getting their  first leaves of the Spring. 

I returned to  the trail as the rain slowed and eventually stopped.  It was a good decision to grab my camera. Not only was I able to photograph some of the first leaves and early signs of spring such as this wildflower, 

I also encountered a number of different species of birds,  including a lot of our common robins. 

I continued on the seeing just the first hints of green on some of the trees.

As I approached the picnic area near the Dreck Creek Reservoir, 

I saw a number of warblers migrating through are area including this beautiful pine warbler,

this black and white warbler and

a number of eastern towhees rustling in the underbrush,

A pair of them flew up on a scrub oak,

and I was able to get a photograph of the more elusive female. 

I walked out about three miles, still with no rain, and I was getting quite warm in my rain gear. I wish I  could have hiked all day. but it was time to turn back. 

I saw a few more birds on the way including this phoebe, 

and oven bird. Here is a link to some more birds I saw on my hike. Rails to Trails Hike birds May 6 2018.

It wasn’t sunny but it was still a great day to be outdoors in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Here is a link to some more photographs from my hike. Rails to Trails May 6 2018.

“The world’s favorite season is the spring. 
All things seem possible in May.”
–  Edwin Way Teale