Red Winged Blackbirds, Ducks, And Skunk Cabbage; Spring Is Near At The Susquehanna Wetlands
I was back at the Susquehanna Wetlands in Salem Township, Luzerne County on Saturday morning. It is my favorite hiking trail near my home here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I especially love there in the Spring, where I can watch Nature awaken from it’s long Winter rest. The diversity of life here in the wetlands reminds me of the Everglades in Florida another place I love to hike. The skies were mostly clear and it was a seasonably cold 33 degrees when I arrived around 7:30 a.m. on Saturday. We had some warmer weather this past week, with some rain, and the ponds near the access access road to the wetlands were completely ice free for the first time this year. 
It has been the coldest Winter we had in a few years so I was glad to see the ice and snow gone. I was hoping to see some ducks and geese again, I saw a few flocks of ring necked geese last week on the areas of the ponds without ice . They were here again on Saturday. There was a large flock of ring-necked duck swimming on the far end of both ponds. I hoped to sneak up on them later in my hike. The return of the ducks was the first sign of Spring I saw on my hike.
I walked into the wetlands on the access road. The road was still closed for the Winter and is still closed since get late Winter snowstorms here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It should open soon,, I was greeted by the singing of Carolina wrens. However I didn’t see them or any other birds on this cool morning. I usually see a lot of sparrows, woodpeckers and other Winter resident birds in the woods along the road. 
I walked to the trail head and parking lot and took my usual walk down to the ancient Susquehanna River. I have grown to love this river. It is older than the mountains it flows through. Dinosaurs roamed along it’s banks. I always stop and reflect on this scenic and historic river. It ws now ice free and was high and flowing fast from the recent rains. 
I left the river and walked into the wetlands. There was still no signs of life on the naked trees and withered vegetation but the canals and ponds were now ice free.
I didn’t see any ducks , minks, muskrats , beavers or river otters on the open waters but I heard another sound of Spring, the loud calls and sounds of the male red winged blackbirds. They were back their unmistakable calls could be heard from the trees , reeds and even logs, all along the trail. Another sure sign Spring is near.
They were one of the few birds I saw and heard, at this point in my hike, the only other birds I saw were a flock of black capped chickadee feeding on the few seeds remaining after the long, cold Winter. 
I walked to the Water Fowl Pond and found the large flock of ring necked ducks I had seen from the other side of the pond. ,
however they also found me and quickly flew off the pond.
This Canada goose remained, I believe a male. calling for a mate or establishing a nesting territory, another sign Spring is near. 
As I began my one mile hike toward the river lands,
I saw another sure sign of Spring, a skunk cabbage. These plants are usually the first native plants to push through the cold soil, or even snow, in the late Winter. I usually see them in February these past few years but , as I noted above, it’s been a cold Winter. I’m glad they are popping up , another sure sign of Spring! In a few weeks they will provide patches of bright green in the brown and gray wetlands. 
I walked through on the Beaver Trail through the wetlands. I hoped to see the minks, muskrats, beavers, and river otters I know live here but there were none to be found. 
As I walked toward the river lands the wind picked up, the temperature dropped and clouds moved in from the north. Although I was finding signs of Spring, Mother Nature reminded me it is still Winter. 
I walked back down to the river,
where I finally saw a few birds, including a northern cardinal,
a white breasted nuthatch, 
and a few white throated sparrows. I also heard another familiar sound of Spring, the whistle-like call of the wood ducks. 
I continued to the river lands area of this private nature preserve, The river lands is more of a picnic area. Here fishing and dog walking are allowed, both prohibited in the wetlands. 
As I walked along the trail I finally found some garlic mustard growing along the trail. Many years I can find green garlic mustard and Dame’s rocket leaves all Winter. Not this year, I haven’t seen any of this plants since December. 
I walked into the river lands, 
and along Lake Took-A-While. The lake was ice free but there were no water birds on the open waters. There no humans on the trail along the lake either. It was blustery although the clouds dissipated and there was some clear skies and sunshine. 
I walked along the lake and heard and saw a flock of Canada geese. 
Swimming with the geese was a large flock of hooded mergansers. 
I often see common mergansers on the like but not to often have I seen hooded mergansers.
This is the male,
and this a male with a female.
As I continued along the lake I saw a few female common mergansers and
a pair of lesser scaup. 
Some of the hooded mergansers,
and common mergansers would fly off to, I’m guessing other ponds and lakes in the area on their migration north. 
I walked to the opposite end of the lake,
and began my hike back to the wetlands. I heard this American crow cawing as it flow over the lake, 
while taking a photo of the crow I saw this bald eagle soaring upward over the lake. 
I love seeing these majestic birds and took photos as it soared upward and then towards the river. 
There is an eagle’s nest near the wetlands with nesting eagles. This was probably one of the nesting eagles looking for food for it’s mate. I don’t think the eggs would have hatched yet. 
I walked back into the wetlands as the skies began to clear again. My back was to the wind now and the strong March sun felt warm on my face. Another sign of Spring. 
It was quiet in the wetlands. I walked along the ponds and canals hoping to see the wood ducks I had heard earlier. I didn’t see them or any other ducks on the trail.
I walked back to the Water Fowl Pond where I saw a few of the ring-necked ducks still swimming on the deep blue waters.
As I was finishing my five mile hike, I saw this tufted titmouse,
and a few golden crowned kinglets fluttering in the trees along the trail. Here is a link to a gallery on my blog web page with some more photos of the bald eagle and other birds I saw on my hike. Susquehanna Wetlands birds March 8 2025.
I finished my five mile hike a little earlier than usual, I had to get ready for my great-nephew Charlies 4th birthday party. Time flies. And it will continue to fly, Soon the wetlands will awaken from their Winter sleep and the sounds and sights of Spring will be everywhere. Here is a link to a gallery on my blog web page with some more photos from my five mile on hike in the wetlands. Susquehanna Wetlands March 8 2025.
“By March, the worst of the winter would be over. The snow would thaw, the rivers begin to run and the world would wake into itself again.” ―Neil Gaiman
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