January Sun And Cold At Community Park In Hazle Township

I returned to my local  Community Park in Hazle Township, Luzerne County  the week after my walk there in cold and snow. We had a January thaw in Northeastern Pennsylvania and warmer  temperatures and rain melted the snow. I  wanted to  stay close to home again , this time  to hike early to get ready for the Philadelphia Eagles playoff game in the afternoon.   A cold front arrived on Saturday   ending  the January thaw.  It was cold Sunday morning with temperatures in the 20’s. But clear,  deep blue skies and brilliant sunshine made for another somewhat pleasant Winter in the pa4k.  As those who follow me  here on my blog would know, I am not of fan of the cold  and snowy Winter  anymore.

Thankfully, the  snow was gone as I walked down to Lake Irena.  The lake was still mostly frozen, but there was some open water along the shore of the lake.  . There were no ice fishermen on the lake this week .

I walked  along the trail over the bridge where stream leaves the lake.

and the clear blue skies and brilliant sunshine reflected off the ice on  lake.

I was the only one  walking  around the lake in the coldand strong northwesterly wind.

 I walked under the pine and oak trees, no longer covered in snow like on my last hike.

On my last hike there was almost no wildlife or bird activity on my walk. This time I was greeted  by the cheerful  song of a Carolina wren,

singing in the woodlands along the trail.

.And it was joined by the calls of a flock of tufted titmice,

a hairy woodpecker,

 a downy woodpecker.

and the diminutive calls of few golden crowned kinglets.    There were also some black-capped chickadees feeding high in the pine trees.I often find different species of birds foraging together in the Winter. 

There was more open water along the north shore of the lake and I saw pair of mallard ducks on the water but they flew off before I could get a photo.

Although it was cold and windy, I  didn’t mind the cold under the clear, deep blue skies and brilliant sunshine.  I walked under the tall pine trees,

and past the wetland where a stream enters the lake. I was hoping to see some more ducks or Canada geese here but there weren’t any.

I walked along the eastern side of the lake and back over the bridge,

and along the frozen lake, before following the trail into the woodlands

and that led to the baseball fields. and the tall, ancient oak trees near the field.

I again followed the abandoned road that once accessed the baseball field.

This time I took a side trail  up ridge  to some old trails associated with the  nearby local airport. 

The trail then took me through  a wetland  with white pine and pitch pine trees.

This is pitch pine cone,

and this a white pine cone

 Pine cushion moss

and common hair moss grew along the trail,

as did large patches of green teaberries.

As I walked through the pine trees I came across a flock of black-capped chickadees,

feeding on the pine cones on the pitch pine trees.   Here is a link to another gallery on my blog web page with some more photos of the birds I saw on my hike. Community Park. Birds January 11 2026.

Walking through the woodlands back to the lake I saws some more wildlife,  a few deer,

who seemed just as surprised to see me as I was to see them. I always enjoy seeing deer  on my hikes,  especially on a cold January morning.

I finished my 3 mile hike walking around Lake Irena again, this time seeing few other people out enjoying the January sunshine. I  was home early and watched  my Eagles lose their playoff game later Sunday afternoon.  I was disappointed but  still the Eagles. I am now looking forward to baseball, the Philles and, especially Spring! Here is a link to a gallery on my blog web page with some more photos from my hike in the park. Community Park. January 11  2026.

“My perfect weekend is going for a walk with my family in the park. I don’t think there’s anything better.” – Anne Wojcicki

“I like to take walks in the park by myself, where no one can bother me and I can think.” – Magic Johnson