Some Reflections On A Winter Walk In The Susquehanna Wetlands
I hiked in the Susquehanna Wetlands again last Saturday morning. I will admit I do not look forward to my hikes in the wetlands , or anywhere here in Northeastern Pennsylvania, in the Winter months as much as I do in the other three seasons of the year. Most of the life in the wetlands, and all of Northeastern Pennsylvania, has gone into it’s Winter hibernation. The trees are bare and the landscape is brown, gray and sometimes white. There are few signs of active plant growth or wildlife activity. 
In the warmer months I know that on every hike I will find the beauty of the green trees, plants , flowers, song birds. insects, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. I may find berries, fruits, mushrooms or other edible wild plants everywhere and every time I hike. Compare the two photos one taken on Saturday, and the other in June. See what I mean. 
Not so in the Winter. There is no plant growth and very little wildlife to be found. There is always a chance I will see some birds or mammals on my hike, maybe even a bald eagle or a river otter. But it is never guaranteed like it is in the warmer seasons. And I don’t like the cold, snow, ice and dark anymore. However, hiking in the cold, snow and ice is still better than sitting inside all day. So I was at the wetlands again on Saturday. 
Thankfully, there was no snow on the ground but it was still a cold 22 degrees when I arrived around 8 a.m. The skies were partly sunny and there was only a light breeze. The gate to the access road to the parking lot in the wetlands was still closed for the Winter and I again parked near the two large ponds by the gate. The ponds were frozen. No ducks, heron or geese flew off as I approaches as they would in the warmer months. 
I began my usual five mile hike on the access road to the wetlands. I said there are few signs of active plant growth or wildlife activity in the Winter, and my goal on these cold weather hikes is to find some of it. Well it wasn’t on the access road. I often see and hear many of our Winter resident birds, hairy and downy woodpeckers, song and white throated sparrows, tufted titmice and black-capped chickadees in the dried vegetation along the road. Not a critter was stirring in the woods on Saturday morning. 
I walked about a 1/2 mile to the parking lot and then down to the Susquehanna River. I always check out the water level of the river, and hope to see some ducks or a bald eagle on the river or the river bank. There was nothing on this cold February morning. I love this ancient river and haves shared much information in many previous blogs. You can find them using the search tool here on my blog.
I walked toward the trail head into the wetlands ( there is also a trail along the river). I was photographing these pine and oak trees when a bald eagle came flying along the river. I didn’t get any photos of the eagle but it is always a great experience to see one of our Nation’s symbols, especially when the Philadelphia Eagles, my favorite football team was playing in the Super Bowl. 
I walked into the wetlands. I found no flowers or ferns or green leaves as I would in the warmer months, just bare trees and bleak brown grass and decaying leaves. 
I heard no insect or frogs or the beautiful song of the migratory birds. as I would in the Spring, Summer and Fall. The silence created a reflective mood but I still prefer the sounds of Summer. I didn’t hear a sound until I heard and saw a few black-capped chickadees foraging along the trail. These are one of the species of birds that remain residents in the wetlands all year long. 
As is often the case, and I believe more so in the Winter months, different species of birds flock together to forage for food. I saw this red bellied woodpecker high in a tree top,
and this hairy woodpecker, 
and downy woodpecker in nearby trees along the trail. I would see a lot more woodpeckers on this hike. 
Even in the bleak Winters months I often find something new and interesting on my hikes. On this hike I found some drops of blood along the trail. I looked to try and follow them but there were only a few in this one area. I am guessing a hawk or bald eagle may have captured and eaten a bird here but I am not sure. 
I walked over to the frozen Water Fowl Pond where I always see some wood ducks, mallards , geese and great blue herons in the warmer months.
Here I saw more woodpeckers,
this red bellied woodpecker was feeding on something on a tree top,
while a downy woodpecker watched. When the red bellied woodpecker flew off,
the downy woodpecker quickly started feeding whatever it was the red bellied enjoyed. 
.
A white breasted nuthatch appeared on another treetop, 
a few song sparrows on the ground, 
and this purple finch were also near the ponds. I see many nuthatches and song sparrows on my Winter walks but not many purple finches. 
I left the ponds and walked along the canal toward the river lands, about a mile away to the east. The sun had risen above the clouds and there was blue sky to the east.
It was quiet again , until I heard this Carolina wren singing its cheerful song, reminding me of the chorus of warblers, vireos and other migratory song birds I hear in the warmer months.
The canal were frozen solid but I didn’t venture out on them this time. I learned my lesson from my plunge into the cold waters on my last hike here.
It has been below freezing for a few weeks now, and there was little plant life to be found along the trail. The few Dame’s rocket and garlic mustard plants I found were frozen and shriveled. These plants often thrive all year during mild winters.
The only other green I saw on my hike was the princess pine or tree club moss.
I walked back down to the river, in the warmer months I often see a belted king fisher or a bald eagle perched on the branches along the river.
On Saturday I only saw a few common mergansers swimming on the open waters of the river.
I walked toward the wetlands were I saw a pair of golden crowned kinglets fluttering in the bushes along the trail.
They weren’t paying attention to me so I was able to get some photos of these jittery , pretty birds that remain here during our cold Winters.
I walked into the river lands area of this small private nature preserve,
and on the trail between Lake Took-A- While and the remains of the old Pennsylvania Canal ( North Branch Division). There is more information on this canal in the link and in previous blog posts which you can research using the search tool.
The lake and canal were both frozen solid. I wasn’t going to see ducks, geese , herons , or belted kingfishers in this cold February morning.
I often see these birds and hawks and bald eagles in my hikes in the warmer months. There was still a chance to see a bald eagle or hawk fly over but I didn’t.
In the warm months I see insects and flowers along the trail. Now only the withered and brown remains of the plants and flowers and their seeds remain, including milkweed pods,
staghorn sumac fruits,
cattails,
reeds 
and evening primrose flowers. I will admit there is some beauty in even this dead plants in the Winter. 
I walked along the long lake, not seeing any wildlife but seeing a few humans walking in the river lands, a few with their dogs. 
As usual I walked to the end of the lake where I turned back and started my two mile hike back to the wetlands. 
On the way I saw a northern mockingbird. This bird has a special meaning for me. My dad loved their beautiful song.
Shortly after his death I was visiting the Shrine to Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown. My dad was devoted to the “Black Madonna, the Protectress of Poland. He was convinced she saved his life while serving in combat with the OSS and French resistance in WW II. He would take my family to the Shrine on the Polish events there in the Summer. Wonderful days they were.
So when I was entering the Shrine after his death I saw and Ia heard and saw a mockingbird perched atop the halo on a statute of Our Lady of Czestochowa. It sang louder as I approached and didn’t fly off, I felt it was a message from my dad. Later in the Summer I visited the Shrine again, with my nephew Mikey, and the mockingbird was there again.
Ever since I associate these birds with my dad and they seem to follow me on my travels. I love these birds and enjoyed seeing this one on this Winter day.
I walked back into the wetlands where it was now quiet again. I only saw a few downy woodpeckers in the tree tops. Here is a link to a gallery with some more photos of the birds I saw on my 5 mile hike. Susquehanna Wetlands birds February 8 2025 
I didn’t see any of the many mammals that are still active in the cold months. I can they tell are around by their tracks.I missed the other warm month critters, the insects, snakes, frogs and sing birds but I didn’t miss the swarms of mosquitoes.
As I said at the introduction to this blog, I don’t like hiking in the Winter. But there is some wildlife out here, which I like to find and share through my photos, and there is beauty in the ice , snow and even withered plants and flowers, you just have to look a little harder and keep your eyes peeled. I try, but I still am counting the days until Spring, warmer weather and the return of more life to the wetlands and Northeastern Pennsylvania. Here is a link to a gallery with some more photos from my 5 mile hike. Susquehanna Wetlands February 8 2025
“Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my heart.” — Victor Hugo
“It seems like everything sleeps in winter, but it’s really a time of renewal and reflection.” — Elizabeth Camden
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