Sadly , It Was The Last Weekend In July At The Susquehanna Wetlands And River Lands

My favorite season, Summer marches on. It is hard to believe it is the last week of July. The mild and beautiful months of April, May and June passed so quickly. And now July was coming to an end. I decided to spend the last Sunday in July at my favorite nature trails at  the Susquehanna Wetlands  and River Lands in Luzerne County. We are blessed with so many wonderful hiking trails in our parks and state forests here in Northeastern Pennsylvania but I have come to know and love these wetlands.  I try and visit every weekend, especially in the warmer months. There is a great diversity of wildlife here and I have learned, sometimes,  where to find it.

On Sunday I began my search for wildlife, as usual, at the ponds before the access gate and road to the wetlands. I visited the now deep green,  duck weed covered ponds  hoping to se some water fowl or even a bald eagle, a hawk or osprey. Most visits I don’t see these more exotic birds but on Sunday I did see a green heron perched on a branch near one  of the two ponds,

and a flock of wood ducks in the distance on the other pond, the Water Fowl pond. 

I then drove to the wetlands parking lot, and as is my routine, I walked down to view the ancient Susquehanna River.

Walking back up  to the trail head I again saw a few eastern cottontail rabbits, and this photos shows how they got their name.

I entered the  wetlands,

and walked on the Beaver Trail along the duck weed covered canal.

I saw a few more wood ducks swimming on a pond in the distance,

and saw this tufted titmouse on a branch along the trail.

I also saw another green heron perched on a branch over the trail.

It is now mid-Summer and there are now many flowers blooming in the wetlands, I only saw some purple loosestrife blooming along the ponds, and

some swamp milkweed and

early goldenrod along the trails.

There were many blackberries ripening along the trail too.

I hiked out to the Water Fowl Pond where I again saw the flock of wood ducks in the distance. There were no other birds on or around the pond.

I began my hike toward the river lands section of the private nature preserve, about one mile away.

Along the way I heard and saw this eastern wood pee wee,

and it’s cousin an eastern phoebe, both species of small flycatchers.

Further along the trail,  I came upon a few species of birds feeding on insects in the treetops, including this red eyed vireo,

some gray catbirds,

a song sparrow,

a red bellied woodpecker,

a few , I believe,  swamp sparrows.

and this juvenile northern cardinal.

I also saw this eastern gray squirrel scampering up a dead tree.

I continued my walk in  the wetlands,

and saw a few more wood ducks swimming in the reeds. The sun broke through the clouds, warming the cool morning air and awakening the cicadas. Their buzzing songs now echoed throughout the wetlands. I was finally able to get a photo of these loud and  elusive insects.

Near where I saw the cicada I noticed a muskrat feeding  on the duck weed in one of the canals.

I also saw another wood duck perched on a log,

as I continued my walk into the river lands.

There wasn’t much bird or wildlife activity along Lake Took-A-While  but, I did see a few dragonflies,

including  a blue dasher dragonfly,

a widow skimmer dragonfly,

and a Halloween pennant dragonfly. 

The cicadas were also  buzzing in the river lands and I saw a swarm of cicada wasps which are also active now and feed exclusively on cicadas,

As is my usual routine, I walked to the other end of the lake where I again saw the large flock of Canada geese.  They weren’t on the lake the previous week. They will continue to travel from the lake to feed in neighboring farm fields  and fatten themselves for their migration south in the Fall,

On my walk to the wetlands I saw some of the birds I saw earlier and also this eastern kingbird,

and yellow warbler.

I usually walk on the trail between the lake and canal in case a bald eagle, hawk or osprey flies over the lake. I haven’t seen any of these birds in months so I decided to hike on the other side of the canal.

There are many old maple and oak trees here on the edge of some farm fields,

Here I saw some painted turtles on the duck weed covered canals,

and this great blue heron perched on a branch in the canal.

I watched it for awhile, hoping it would fly off in a direction that would allow me to take some photos,

It did, and I watched as it spread it’s large colorful wings as it land a short distance away on the canal.  Here is a link to a gallery with some more photos of the birds and critters I saw on my hike in the wetlands and river lands. Susquehanna Wetlands wildlife July 28 2024.

It was near noon and hot,  and I  finished  my five mile hike under the shade of the  oak, maple and sycamore trees along the trail with the loud songs of the cicadas echoing in the wetlands. It is a bittersweet song, since it is the beginning of the end of my favorite time of year.  Hopefully, there will be many more warm days and nights before the first frosts of Fall arrive. Here is a link to a gallery with some more photos from  my hike in the wetlands and river lands. Susquehanna Wetlands  July 28 2024.

July is not only a season of the year; it is a season of the mind and memory. Hot days and sultry nights and crashing thunderstorms are a part of July, and to the drone of bees in the clover fields will soon be added the high-pitched sibilance of the cicada. The tang of ripe cherries and the sweetness of sunning hay… ~Hal Borland

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