Snow, And Ice On The Ponds And River, But No Snow On The Trails At The Susquehanna Wetlands

I was expecting to hike on  ice and snow at the Susquehanna Wetlands in Luzerne  County on Saturday.   We had a couple snow and  ice storms near my home in Hazle Township  this past week.  Temperatures did not rise above freezing all week. There was a couple of inches of snow,  with a crust of ice,  on the ground when I left my home  early  Saturday morning.  I was sure I’d be hiking  in the snow and ice  at the Susquehanna  Wetlands, However,  when I  arrived  I  was surprised, and delighted,  to find no snow on the ground.  . The wetlands are about 10 miles north and  a   thousand feet lower in elevation than my home.  We   often  get a lot more snow and ice than at the wetlands but I wasn’t expecting the ground to be snow free. 

I was pleased I wouldn’t have to trudge through the snow and ice. The sun was shining in clear skies when I arrived .  The temperature was 22 degrees.  Although  there was no snow on the grounds  there was ice and snow on the ponds near the entrance  gate to the wetlands.The gate is closed in the Winter so I walk in the 1/2 mile to the parking lot and trail head.

I usually see a deer or two or a few of the birds that stay here in the Winger along the road to the wetlands. On Saturday it was quiet. I only saw this song sparrow  along the road.

I walked to the parking lot,

then down to the  ancient Susquehanna River, one of the oldest rivers on the planet.  I also think it is one of the most scenic.  ( There is a lot of information of the river in past blogs which you can find using the search tool on my blog) . The river was high and there was some ice floating down the river.  

There were no ducks on the icy waters of the river. I had been seeing a lot of common mergansers on my last couple of hikes. I left the river and walked into the drab Winter wetlands. The wetlands are so different now, with the naked trees and withered grass,  then in the warmer months when they are lush and green and teeming with life. It won’t be long until the Spring arrives and awakens the sleeping wetlands.  Although there was no snow on the trails, the canals  were ice  and snow covered.

The canals, and ponds were still frozen solid.  There was very little open water. I often see beavers, muskrats,  in the open water in  the Winter and I have seen river otters and minks too.   I didn’t see a single mammal on my five mile hike on   Saturday.

I  knew these critters were still here since I did see a lot of track on the snow on the ice covered ponds and canals. I think these are  from a coyote.

I now saw a few birds  along the trail including a few downy, and

hairy woodpeckers. These photos illustrate the difference between this very similar birds. The hairy is bigger and had a much larger beak.

I also saw a few pretty eastern bluebirds.

I love how their blue feathers reflect the sun.

I walked to the frozen  Water Fowl pond.  In the Summer I see ducks, herons and  geese on the ponds but not in the Winter. And,  I have seen beavers, muskrats and river otters here in Winters when the pond isn’t  completely frozen like this year. 

The  strengthening February sun warmed the  cold morning air. Even though it was warming up there was not much bird activity in the wetlands, which surprised me.

I didn’t see any mammals  either but I saw a lot of track on the snow on the ice covered ponds and canals. I think these are coyote.

I  left the Water Fowl Pond and walked toward the  River Land area of the small, private nature preserve. It is about a mile to the east of the wetlands.  It was a nice hike under the brilliant sunshine.

There was little green in the wetlands after a very cold few weeks. This Winter has beeen below average, the first time in a few years. In some years the skunk cabbage is  pushing through the cold ground but I didin’t see any on this hike. I didn’t see much green at all.  In mild years,   I see  green  internediate ferns, Christmas ferns, garlic mustard and Dame’s rocket all Winter. I didn;t see any of these plants on this hike. The only green I saw along the trail was pincess pine or tree club moss.

I walked back down to the river where I found a lot more ice floating on it’s waters. There were none of the usual common mergansers on the river because of the ice.

As I was walking back to the trail to the  River  Lands I heard, then saw this winter wren chattering in the reeds.

As I neared the River Lands I encountered some snow along the trails.  I am hoping it is the last snow I see here this year.

I walked into the River Lands,

and took the trail along Lake Took-A_ While.  The entire lake was frozen and coevered with snow. This long lake, actually a series of ponds is a popular fishing spot both for humans and  wildlife. I often see bald eagles belted kingfisher, great blow herons and occasionally an osprey looking for a fish in the lake. I saw none of these birds, and not a single human was out on this sunny February morning.

The River Lands, in addition to fishing have picnic and facilities and restaurants.  Dogs are allowed here. They are not allowed in the wetlands.   I often have to remind folks who I encounter walking their dogs in the wetlands,  it is a nature preserve and dogs are not allowed.

The trail continues between the lake and the remains of an old canal. I often seen birds, even in the Winter, but on this cold morning I only saw this male northern cardinal. It was singing loudly high in a tree top. I  heard a few signing in the tree tops. The past few months the male cardinals were quiet and would flutter in the  shrubs along the ground. I believe it is a sign  of Spring and they are already looking to attract a female.

Another sign of Spring was a flock of American robins foraging in the grass along the lake. Their were about a dozen of them. I only saw a few all Winter, again a sign of the longer days and approaching Spring.   They would be the last birds I would see along the lake.

I walked to the far end of the lake, enjoying the beautiful scene of the ice and snowed covered lake contrasting the deep blue skies.

I also enjoyed the contrast of  the blue skies and the  snow and ice  with the  cattail spikes ,

withered milkweed and

 reeds along the  lake.

It had warmed up  bit as I began my hike back to the wetlands.

It was a quiet hike back, not seeing any humans or animals along the way.

However , just as I was finishing my hike, I heard  a red-bellied woodpecker in the tree tops. Then I saw a few hairy and downy woodpeckers. Usually birds, even of different species flock together for safety. And, I think even more so in the Winter months. I soon heard a Carolina wren singing it’s cheerful song.

A white breasted nuthatch was scampering  down a tree,

a flock off tufted titmice

and, dark-eyed junco were also fluttering near the ground along the trail.Unfortunately I was now near the end of my hike and had some  errands to attend too so I couldn’t stay around and hope to see more birds activity in this flock.

I did  see another sign of Spring on my hike, this bald eagle sitting on it’s nest.

Bald eagles lay their eggs early  here in Northeastern Pennsylvania, often in February. I was  happy to see nesting eagle , not only because this was a sign of the approaching Spring but also because it means at least one more bald eagle will be soaring over the wetlands. I love our bald eagles. I won’t reveal the location  of the nest here or on social media  since  some folks  get to close to the nest and I don’t want it disturbed.Here is a link to a gallery on my blog website with some more photos of the birds I saw on my hike. Susquehanna Wetlands birds February 22 2025.

Although I didn’t see a lot of wildlife,   I loved the brilliant sunshine, and the bald eagle sighting  which made it another great Winter  hike.  As  is often the case I have no control of what I see on my hikes, I just walk, and follow my dad’s advice,  I keep my eyes peeled. I enjoy my hiking and sharing the beauty of nature I find. Thanks for coming along. Here is a link to a gallery on my blog website with some more photos from my five  mile hike. Susquehanna Wetlands  February 22 2025.

February is the border between winter and spring. ~Terri Guillemets

fskokoski@gmail.com

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