No Otters, Muskrats Or Minks But A Lot Of Birds At The Cold And Ice Covered Susquehnna Wetlands
The cold weather arrived early this year in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Temperatures dipped into the teens for the first time since last January. Temperatures in the teens mean ice on the ponds and canals in the Susquehanna Wetlands. And I have been fortunate to see minks, river otters, beavers, and muskrats on the ice in the wetlands the past few years. So I was at the wetlands, located in Salem Township Luzerne County early Saturday morning. 
It was overcast when I arrived and parked near the Water Fowls ponds at the entrance road. Temperatures were near 20 degrees with a strong northwesterly wind. It was cold. The ponds were covered in ice so I didn’t see the ducks, geese and herons that are often on the ponds in the warmer months. There were no other critters crawling on the ice and no birds were active around the pond. A different dreary scene than in the Spring and Summer. 
I walked to the access road to the parking lot. The gate is closed in the Winter so I had to walk in about a 1/2 mile to the parking lot and trail-head. I usually see a variety of Winter resident birds along the road but, like last week, it was quiet as I walked under the bare trees.
I finally saw a few white-throated sparrows. These birds usually migrate here from their more northern breeding grounds in the Fall. 
A hairy woodpecker was also busy looking for insects or seeds in a treetop. I usually see a lot more birds here and hear the cheerful songs of Carolina wrens but not on Saturday. 
I walked to the parking lot and then, as usual, down to the Susquehhana River. I love this rive, over of the three that flow near my home in southern Luzerne County, the other bring the Lehigh and Schuylkill. 
I walked back up to the trail thatleads into the wetlands,
where I found the canal along the Beaver Trail mostly covered in ice. It was quiet now, so different then the Spring, Summer and Fall when there is always the sound of sing birds, frogs or insects echoing in the wetlands. 
A short distance, about a 1/4 mile the trail splits and there are two paths to the Water Fowl Pond. I always first take the one to the left, which takes you between a pond,
and swamp where I usually see a lot of bird activity all year long.There was still some snow left from a recent storm. 
And on this cold and cloudy Saturday, I saw a large flock of American goldfinches feeding on the alder trees along the trail. 
The males are now in their duller Winter feathers but they are still colorful birds and I was glad to see them on this dreary day. 
I also saw a few song sparrows scurrying in the reeds along the trail. I usually see a few woodpeckers on the dead trees in the swamp but not on Saturday. 
I walked to the frozen Water Fowl Pond but there was nothing on the pond except ice. I started my mile hike toward the river lands. the other area in this private nature preserve, and saw a flock of winter wrens. 
I usually only see one, or at most a pair of these birds but this time there were a dozen feeding along the trail, allowing me to get some photos.
A few blue jays were high in the tree tops,
and I was surprised to see a great blue heron fly overhead. There must me some open water I thought. And sure enough, just about when I saw the heron I heard a loud splash across the canal. It was very loaf and I think it had to be a beaver, and not a muskrat, mink or river otter. I had seen some trees gnawed down here and I think the beavers moved in again . They are usually closer to the river lands. 
I walked along the bare trees and frozen canal, not seeing anymore bird activity. The trail was now brown, gray and dreary, so different then the lush greens of Spring and Summer,
only a few intermediate wood ferns
Christmas ferns,
garlic mustard leaves, 
princess pine or tree moss,
and red winter berries provided some color along the trail. 
I hiked into the river lands,
where there was ice on most of Lake Took-A-While, but also large areas of open water. I hoped there might be a bald eagles or great blue heron fishing in the open water but I didn’t see any on this cold and dreary December day. 
There were only a few fishermen at the lake. As usual I walked to the far end of the lake where I begin my hike back to the wetlands. 
On the way I saw some of the same birds I photographed earlier and a flock of dark eyed juncos or snow birds, 
and American tree sparrows. 
I finished my five mile hike under the cloudy skies. I didn’t see any of the water critters I hoped to see but it was still nice to be outside, even on a cold, dreary December day. I love to look for wildlife all year round , even in the dark and cold . Even just seeing a sparrow or squirrel outside is better better than sitting inside watching television (except then the Philadelphia Eagles are on). 
Well. it was cold again Sunday morning but the skies were clear, . The sound of the loud splash I heard in the wetlands on Saturday got my curiosity up. I decided to return to the wetlands. The sun was shining under clear, cold skies. The temperature was around 20 degrees when I again parked at the Water Fowl ponds. 
Again, I saw no birds or wildlife on the ponds. and it was pretty quite on the road to the parking lot too. 
I did see a few white breasted nuthatches scurrying down the trees branches along the road, but no other wildlife activity. 
I again walked down to the Susquehanna River, before entering into the wetlands. It was quiet, again, walking along the ice covered canals. I didn’t see the minks, muskrats, otters or beavers I had hoped to find. 
However, near the ponds and swamp I again saw the song sparrows, goldfinches and, on Saturday and also, a flock of colorful bluebirds.
I also saw this colorful red-bellied woodpecker high on a tree top.
I walked to the ice covered Water Fowl pond and seeing no birds or wildlife, started my hike to the River lands. 
On the way, a heard a splash, not a loud one, like the previous day, but a quieter one like a mink or otter may make sliding into the open water on one of the ponds. I watched for 15 minutes hoping a furry head would emerge in the open water but none appeared. 
So I continued onward to the river lands seeing a few swamp sparrows, 
tufted titmice,
and a downy woodpecker on the way.
I did see some furry mammals but they weren’t in the water, 
these white tail deer walked across the trail.
I saw large flocks of Canada geese in the farm fields on my drive to the wetlands so I decided to see if there were any on the river. I didn’t see any geese, but I did see a large flock of mallard ducks fly off the river.
Te joined a larger flock on the other side of the river. There were over 50 ducks in the flock, on of the largest flocks of mallards I have ever seen. 
I continued on my hike to the river lands, and on the way saw the great blue heron perched on a tree limb.
I noticed what appeared to be fur on it’s beak and learned that these large herons do feed on chipmunks, squirrels and other small mammals.
I continued on to Lake Took-A-While which looked a lot different than the previous day under the cloudy skies. The waters reflected the clear blue skies.
I hoped to see a bald eagle but again there were none but I did see this red tailed hawk flying swiftly in the distance. 
I walked to the end of the lake and again started my hike back to the wetlands, seeing the great blue heron now on the bank of the canal. It would be one of the last birds I would see on this five mile hike. Here is a link to a gallery with more photos of the birds I saw on my hikes in the wetlands and river lands last weekend. Susquehanna Wetlands birds December 7 and 8 2024. 
I finished another five mile hike and I didn’t see the minks, otter or muskrats I hope to find, but I had seen a good number of the birds that remain in our area in the Winter on my hike. Here is a link to a gallery with more photos from my hikes in the wetlands and river lands last weekend. Susquehanna Wetlands hikes December 7 and 8 2024. 
I enjoyed the sunshine on Sunday but it was still cold, and although I did see some wildlife and birds active in the cold, I am counting the days until Spring, when all kinds of varieties of life, flora and fauna, will return to the wetlands and river lands. The skunk cabbages will be the first sign and tit won’t be long until they appear.
“I heard a bird sing in the dark of December, a magical thing, and sweet to remember: We are nearer to Spring than we were in September.” — Oliver Herford
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