More Fall Color Appears At The PPL Wetlands
I awoke to cloudy skies, a light rain and mild summer-like temperatures on Sunday morning. I decided to return and hike in the PPL Wetlands in Salem Township, Luzerne. Despite the warm temperatures, I quickly was reminded it was Autumn as the trees in the wetlands were continuing to display more color with each visit now.
The temperature was 67 degrees when I arrived and this time the wetlands weren’t quiet. They were filled with the sounds of frogs peeping and croaking, katydids singing and crickets chirping, I am sure because ot the warm temperatures.
There were few bird songs in the wetlands, just a few crows and catbirds. But I did see the family of wood ducks sitting on their favorite log.
Once again they did not stay long when they saw me approach,
and quickly flew to another location where they wouldn’t be disturbed by noisy hikers.
There was also a great blue heron stalking its’ prey, probably one of the many frogs I heard along the trail.
As I walked through the wetlands I noticed more leaves changing color including the bright reds of the Virginia creeper vines and the
yellows of the hayscented ferns,
and red and oranges of the poison ivy vines.
The wildflowers in bloom , mainly asters, continued to dwindle but there were still some blooming and adding some more color to the wetlands, including the ironweed,
this purple wild, New England aster,
As I was leaving the wetlands I saw another great blue heron wading in one of the canals.
And, as I was taking its photograph a flock of wood ducks flew past allowing me to take these images.
So many of my photos are just being at the right place at the right time.
Across the path from where I saw the great blue heron I found this tree that was felled, probably by that large beaver I saw a few weeks ago.
I left the wetlands and walked into the river lands section of the nature preserve. The sun broke through the clouds raising the temperature. Unfortunately, condensation formed on my camera lens ending my picture taking for the morning.
I continued my six mile hike and enjoyed the beginning of the color that will soon change our woodlands into an Autumn wonderland. Here is a link to a gallery with some more photographs from my morning hike. PPL Wetlands hike September 27 2020.
“How beautifully leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days.”
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