Time Moves On: The Last Weekend Of Spring At The PPL Wetlands.
It’s hard to believe that it’s the last weekend of Spring. It seems like it was only yesterday when Spring began and the snow and ice were melting and the woodlands of Northeastern Pennsylvania were coming to life. . However, even though it was chilly , with temperatures in the low 50’s, I found many signs of the approaching Summer as soon as I walked into the PPl Wetlands and Riverlands in Salem Township Saturday morning . The ponds and canals are now covered with duckweed. 
The light green new growth of trees, shrubs and flowers of Spring has become the lush deep green of Summer. The growing season is now at its peak. 
The milkweed and 
solomon’s seal have replaced the skunk cabbage and may apple. 
The birds like this oriole now care for their young. 
And the young Canada geese goslings are old enough to search for food by themself. 
The red-winged blackbirds defend their territories. The males fly overhead and loudly squawk to chase off intruders. 
The females stay close to the nest and quickly let you know if you get too close.
The sun warmed quickly warmed it up and, as usual, I encountered a wide variety of wildlife in the wetlands and riverlands. I wasn’t able to photograph all of it. I saw a few deer, chipmunks, squirrels and rabbits that ran off before I could focus my camera lens on them . I was able to capture this squirrel shortly after I started my hike.
I knew there had to be some young wood ducks in the wetlands. I had seen at least three mating pairs in the Spring. I soon found them in one of the canals. However the ducklings sped off into the brush before I could photograph them. Mom waited until they all were safe before she joined them.
Nearby a hairy or downy woodpecker was searching for insects on as tree. It flew off as I approached. 
There were many wildflowers in bloom now. I have a new App. on my iPhone to help identify wildflowers. I am not sure if they are correct but this is the identification the app made. Please feel free to let me know if they are incorrect. This flower is called dames rocket. 
This a white dogwood. 
These yellow flowers were identified as creeping jenny. 
I walked through the river lands and onto the Susquehanna Warrior Trail again. And I followed it out about two miles past this pond along the river. 
There were a lot of song birds singing in the trees on the trail including this yellow warbler,
this song sparrow,
a female American redstart, 
And this catbird that caught a dragonfly, 
a red-eyed vireo 
and this pretty indigo bunting. 
The mid June sun warmed up considerably from when I began my hike. Temperatures were now near 80 degrees as I started my 3 1/2 mile walk back to my car. On the way I saw this beaver in one of the ponds. I also saw a beautiful pileated woodpecker> I love seeing these birds in the woodlands but I wasn’t able to get a photo. 
As I walked along the ponds and canals I saw more plants that told me summer was approaching including sorrel and
mullein. 
I always hope to see a bear, fox, snake or some other more exciting and exotic animal on my hike. Sometimes I do, but for the most part I usually see the same common flowers, trees birds, insects and animals I always do. This is always good enough for me. I love to see and share the beauty of the woodlands of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Unfortunately the Spring, Summer and Fall always seem to go by so quickly and then Winter lingers too long. Here is a link to a gallery with more photographs from my hike. PPL Wetland and Riverlands June 15 2019 
In June as many as a dozen species may burst their buds on a single day. No man can heed all of these anniversaries; no man can ignore all of them. Aldo Leopold
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