Summer Heat And Cicadas Arrive At The Susquehanna Wetlands

It was hazy, hot and humid last Sunday my. Prefect Summer weather for me. I love the heat. I had a late night watching fireworks on Saturday so I got a late start and , after my morning walk in my neighborhood, I decided to visit the Susquehanna Wetlands again.

As I have wrote about in my previous blogs it’s now my ” go to” hiking trail. As usual I stopped at the ponds before the access road. They were now a deep green, completely covered in duck weed and algae..

There were no bald eagles or herons this week, but the wood duck families were out swimming on the warm, murky waters.

The parents are not as protective of the maturing ducklings. They can’t fly yet but will soon be joining their parents in flight when they see me approaching.

I didn’t see the grosbeak, redstart or warbler I have seen on my last few visits. I drove into the wetlands and, as usual walked to the banks of the Susquehanna River. I had hope to explore more of the towns and cities along its course this Summer, as I did last year. But so far I haven’t been able to get away.

I walked into the wetlands and under lush green canopy of oak, maple and sycamore trees.

I was greeted by one of my favorite Summer sounds, the buzzing of the annual cicada. Unlike the periodical cicadas, who live underground for 17 years, these cousins emerge every year. This was early for them. I only heard a few of them but their song will get louder as the Summer progresses.  There not much bird   activity in the wetlands.

 I  walked to the Water Fowl pond where I saw the more of the wood ducks swimming on the green waters, 

Here I was surprised to find a lot of bird activity . It seems that different species of birds like to flock together when foraging for food.   I saw this American robin perched on a branch,

this song sparrow,

a   colorful  male American goldfinch

and a gray catbird. .  All of these birds are more common in the shrubs along the pond.

I was surprised to see the red-eyed vireo here. which is usually seen in deeper  and more mature woodlands.

I left the Water Fowl ponds and walked  on the trail along the duck weeded covered canal toward the river lands area of the private nature preserve.

Here the  broadleaf arrowhead leaves,

were replacing the decaying skunk cabbage  leaves along the trail.

There were not many wildflowers blooming in the Summer in the shade of the  wetlands but I did see the first orange jewel weed or spotted  touch-me-not. These flowers are native to Pennsylvania.

I heard a few more cicadas as I walked along the trail. I was hoping to see some snakes, frogs or turtles  but only saw this eastern chipmunk,

and a few eastern cottontail rabbits.  

I also saw a few red winged blackbirds,

and this downy woodpecker.

The strong July sun heated up the warm morning air. I left the wetlands and walked on the  access road which had a marsh below it.  Here, in the open, with no shade  I saw the sun loving wildflowers of Summer, including spatted knapweed.

St. John’s Wort and

common mullein. All of these are invasive to our area.

Only the daisy fleabane  I saw is native.

I walked into the river lands where I found the canal also covered in duck weed.

The waters are warm now so the cold blooded turtles don’t need to baste in the sunshine to warm up. There were still a few, covered in duckweed, like me, enjoying the strong July sun

There were also the  Canada goldenrod,

and yellow loosestrife both native wildflowers blooming along the trail, another sign of mid Summer.

I walked along Lake Took- A While, always looking for eagles, kingfishers and heron.

There were no kingfishers or eagles but I saw a couple of green herons flying over the lake,

and the usual flock of Canada geese along its shore.

As I walked to the end of the lake,

I saw dragonflies darting and hovering above the lake, occasionally landing on a leaf or twig this is a widow skimmer and,

this a blue dasher.

A few red squirrels scrambled in the trees ,

and I saw a few phoebes perched on branches over the canal. .

a Carolina wren,

and this American redstart. Here is a link to  a gallery on my blog web page  with some more photos of the birds I saw on my hike in the wetlands. Susquehanna Wetlands birds July 6 2025.

I only heard a few more cicadas as I finished my hike.  I did see, what I think, is  this silky sheath or silky rosegill mushroom along the trail.  It was the first time I saw this species.

I was hungry , hot, tired and thirsty when I finished my 5 mile hike but it was another wonderful walk enjoying the beauty of nature. Here is a link to  a gallery on my blog web page  with some more photos from  my hike in the wetlands. Susquehanna Wetlands July 6 2025.

It was hot again on Thursday afternoon, but the heat didn’t discourage me from heading back to the wetlands for a late afternoon hike.

It was sunny and humid with temperatures in the mid 80’s when I arrived. I didn’t think I’d see much bird activity in the heat but I thought I’d see some snakes and fringe and listen to the cicadas. I love hearing the buzzing of the cicadas.  I stopped at the water fowl pond and saw the wood ducks ducklings swimming in the afternoon heat, watched by their parents.

I drove to the wetlands and, after walking to the river again,entered the woodlands in the late afternoon sun, The  sun now filtered though the leaves from the northwest giving a different feeling in the wetlands from my usual morning hikes.  I was right about the bird activity.  It was quiet. What surprised me was I didn’t hear any cicadas. I thought for sure there would singing in the afternoon heat.

I walked under the trees as the late afternoon sun filtered through the leaves. It was hot. 

I walked to the Water Fowl pond,

where I saw more wood ducks,

then walked toward the river lands,

and heard the haunting melody of a wood thrush singing along the trail.

I also saw this eastern wood peewee.

There were a few eastern cottontails rabbits chewing on the grass.

I saw the first  swamp milkweed blooming along the trail.

As I walked I heard the raspy calls of a green heron and saw this one perched in a tree.

There was not much wildlife activity for the rest of my 4 mile hike. Just  a few more rabbits and gray squirrels.

It was nice walking under the trees  as the sun sunk in the northwestern sky.

I walked into the wetlands and the sun was still storm as the afternoon was coming to an end. I didn’t walk to the end of the lake,

but began my hike back at the mid – point of the long lake.  I didn’t see the Canada geese and they probably were at the far end of the lake.

I walked back into the wetlands where I was surprised to see his great crested flycatcher.  I haven’t seen many of these large and colorful flycatchers in the wetlands  

I finished my  hike around 6 p.m.  I didn’t get to see what I wanted, the cicadas  and snakes but, as always in was another great hike in this wonderful nature preserve.  As always I am glad to share some of the beauty I found here  in my blog Here is a link to  a gallery on my blog web page  with some more photos from my afternoon hike  in the wetlands. Susquehanna Wetlands July 6 2025.

“Again and again, the cicada’s untiring cry pierced the sultry summer air like a need at work on thick cotton cloth.” — Yukio Mishima