Enjoying The Sounds, Smells And Heat Of Summer At The Susquehanna Wetlands And Riverlands
Summer is nearing it’s peak here in Northeastern Pennsylvania and one could easily see the many signs hiking in our woodlands. I returned to the Susquehanna Wetlands in Salem Township in Luzerne County early Saturday morning. It was warm and humid when I exited my Jeep near the ponds at the entrance. I immediately noticed the musty, woodsy smell of the waters in wetlands created by the heat and humidity of Summer. The ponds are now covered in green algae and duck weed. 
I walked out to the Water Fowl Pond, hoping to see the wood ducks again, or maybe even a heron or bald eagle. There were no ducks or other critters on the ponds but I did hear a sound which was another reminder Summer was here. The annual cicadas were now singing in the trees of the wetlands. Not many, but there buzzing and whining sound is unmistakable and will soon echo throughout the wetlands. There were other signs Summer was here, the blackberries were ripening,
and the native button bush flowers, 
and invasive but pretty purple loosestrife flowers bloomed along the pond. 
I left the Water Fowl Pond and drove into the wetlands parking lot an, before starting my hike, I took my usual walk down to the banks of the mighty Susquehanna River, one of the oldest rivers on our planet. I had been seeing a lot of eastern cottontail rabbits here in the picnic area near the river, There were none on Saturday, making me think, or hope, maybe a bald eagle or hawk may be nearby. 
I walked into the musty smelling wetlands and under the shade of the tall oak, maple and sycamore trees. The sycamores, with their patchy bark, are my favorite. They grew in bottomlands and along rivers so I never seen one growing up. I believe the first one I remember seeing was when I was in college at Bloomsburg University.
As I began my hike I was treated to one of my favorite sounds of Spring and Summer, the melodic and haunting song of a wood thrush. I love hearing the soothing songs of the birds of the deep woods on my hikes. 
I walked through and under the still lush foliage in the wetlands and to the Beaver Trail. Here I always first hike back to the Water Fowl Pond. 
This warm and humid morning I was greeted to another song of Spring and Summer here in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the chattering cry of a belted kingfisher. I don’t see these birds here in the wetlands section of this private nature preserve. They are usual fishing in the river lands or along the river. I was lucky to get a photo of this one perched on a branch.
I soon heard the cheerful song a few common yellowthroats and saw this female,
and masked male singing along the trail. 
On my way to the Water fowl Pond I saw this green heron perched on a log on another pond in the wetlands. 
It was contorting it’s long neck as I watched. I haven’t seen many great blue or green herons in the wetlands this year, until Saturday. 
After seeing this green heron a great blue heron flew overhead,
and another one was wading in the canal along the trail. 
I continued my walk the Water Fowl Pond and saw one of the few flowers blooming in the Summer heat in the wetlands, swamp milkweed.
The poison ivy,
and green briar flowers I saw int the Spring produced berries that the birds and wildlife will enjoy now and during the Winter months. 
I walked to the Water Fowl Pond where I now saw the family of wood ducks swimming on the far side of the pond. The quickly swam to the safety of the reeds along the shore. 
I left the Water Fowl Pond and hiked toward the wetland
seeing another wood duck perched on a log. 
I also saw this song sparrow, 
a Carolina wren 
and a few catbirds singing in the trees along the trail. 
Across the canal I saw this unusual sight, a pair of mallard ducks sharing a nest with some young wood ducks. 
Another green heron was perched on another log in a canal. 
There was a lot of activity in the wetlands on this warm morning, I saw a lot of frogs in the warm murky waters, including this bullfrog,
and this eastern green frog. 
The sounds of the early cicadas could also be heard as I walked back down to the river. 
Perched on a log above the river was another belted kingfisher which posed for a few photos before flying away. 
I left the wetlands and entered the river lands section of the nature preserve. 
Here I saw bull thistle,
and yellow loosestrife flowers, both invasive species, blooming along the canal.
I walked along the canal and scenic Lake Took-A- While.
It was late morning and the intense July sun raised the temperature to near 90 degrees. There were only a few people walking on the trail or fishing along the lake in the heat and humidity.
There was not much bird or wildlife activity either. I saw this yellow warbler in a tree ,
and a few chipping sparrows scurrying in the grass along the trail.
The Canada geese were also hanging out along the shore of the lake.
There were a few dragonflies hovering and darting along the shore of the lake including, I believe an eastern amber winged dragonfly and 
a blue dasher dragonfly. 
I walked to the far end of the lake and then began my 2 mile hike back to the wetlands parking lot in the heat and humidity. 
There wasn’t much wildlife or bird activity in the heat until I returned to the shade provided by the large trees in the wetlands.
Here I saw this red-bellied woodpecker, 
this eastern phoebe, 
a few red winged blackbirds,
and a family of wood ducks. Here is a link to a photo gallery with some more photos of the birds I saw on my hike in the Susquehanna Wetlands last Saturday. Susquehanna Wetlands birds July 12 2024. 
The occasional songs of the cicadas could be heard as I finished my hike in the wetlands. I knew they would be louder, almost deafening on my next visit. Here is a link to a photo gallery with some more photos from my hike in the Susquehanna Wetlands last Saturday. Susquehanna Wetlands hike July 12 2024. 
I was feeling the heat and humidity as I ended my five mile hike. The heat takes more out of my in my older years, but I love it. I will take a record breaking sweltering hot and humid day in the Summer over cold, snowy, dark and bleak days of Winter. I not only love but also the life that abounds in our woodlands in the Summer. It is passing quickly and I will try and cherish every minute of my favorite time of the year. 
“I love summertime more than anything else in the world. That is the only thing that gets me through the winter, knowing that summer is going to be there.” Jack McBrayer
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