PPL Wetlands, Spring Is in Full Bloom, And The Mosquitos Are Back.
We are so lucky to have the PPL Wetlands and Riverlands nature preserves in our area. These ponds, lakes, wetlands and former canals adjacent to the Susquehanna River are have an abundance of plant and animal life. I try to visit as often as I can and did so this morning.
As they are everywhere, in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the trees in the wetlands are wearing their light green spring leaves. They seem almost a magical shade of green. It is almost dream-like walking under the ancient trees with their new and delicate leaves. And the may apples or mandrakes, the wild pink azaleas and a number of other flowers are now in full bloom.
Didn’t see many turtles today, the water is warming up and they are happy staying submerged most of the day. The waters are now almost completely covered in duck weed.
I woke up a few sleeping deer and spooked a groundhog. Nothing as exciting as my capture of the snapping turtles having fun last week but did see a few species of birds that I knew and a few I am not quite sure of their identification.
There is an eastern phobe nest near the entrance to the wetlands and mommy wasn’t happy with me trying to get some photos of her young ones. I saw another phobe with a fly or moth in it’s bill. Pretty cool.
And there were a number of the beautiful baltimore orioles in the trees along the paths in the riverlands. Their song is delightful to hear as you walk under the canopy of new leaves.
Also saw a black-capped chickadee eating some insect off of a leaf. The little bird performed aerial acrobatics trying to get at the insects. There were many other birds, including woods ducks, mallards and geese on the ponds in the wetlands. The only little setback was the large swarms of mosquitoes that attacked me the entire time. I forgot to put repellant on. But still a great day to be outdoors. Well I guess everyday in the Spring is, there is something new to see every day, if you keep your eyes peeled.
Here is a link to some more photographs I took on my walk today. And if you right click the red highlighted bird anmes above it will take you to more photos of the birds I took today. https://keepyoureyespeeled.net/photographs-5/nggallery/blog-photos/ppl-wetlands-may-16-2015
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