Turtles, Birds, Flowers And A Posing Wood Duck: A Couple Of Spring Hikes In The Susquehanna Wetlands.

It was a perfect Spring afternoon last Thursday. We finally had some clear , blue skies and brilliant sunshine.  I took advantage of  pleasant weather by driving to the Susquehanna Wetlands  in Salem Township Luzerne County. I usually hike here  on weekends and in the morning.  It was nice to walk in  the wetlands in the bright afternoon sun.   The access gate to the wetlands was still closed so I parked by the two  nearby ponds. The water reflected the clear blue skies. Some trees showed hints of red and green as their first buds appeared.

There were no ducks. geese or water fowl on the ponds.  I walked into the wetlands on the access road.   There wasn’t a lot of bird activity  here either.  And, I wasn’t able to get  photos  the few  birds I saw. I was still using  a rental camera since my Sonny RX 10 iv camera was being repaired. I didn’t study the settings manual and was still having problems  with the focus so  I missed a lot of bird photos.  There was a lot more green  in the woodlands. And a lot of wildflowers were now in bloom,   including Spring beauty flowers,

and  common blue violets.

As usual I walked down to the ancient Susquehanna River before entering the wetlands.

On my way into the wetlands I saw the eastern phoebe that has been nesting  here for a few years.

In the wetlands I found more  wildflowers in bloom including bluets and

one of my favorites, trout lilies . These pretty,  delicate flowers only bloom for a few days. ,

In addition to the wildflowers the skunk cabbage continued to grow and cover the wetlands with their lush green leaves.

There were a few birds that were close enough to photograph without using the 83x zoom I was having difficulty with the settings. I was able to photograph this northern cardinal and,

this  red winged blackbird.

I enjoyed the sunshine as I walked past the Water Fowl Pond ,

and the on towards the river lands.

The many turtles in the canals and ponds also were enjoying the sunshine. There were dozens of them , both invasive red eared sliders and native painted turtles.

I believe thus is a red eared slider and

this a painted turtle.

I also saw the old snapping turtle with the scar on its neck in the same pond where I saw it a week ago.

Along the trail on my  walk to the River lands seeing more flowers  including this invasive star magnolia tree flowers and

the service or shad berry flowers. .  We called the June berries. These trees will provide delicious berries loved by the birds and some humans, like me.

I walked into the river lands,where I saw a lot of folks fishing along the deep blue waters of Lake Took-A -While.

Here I saw a lot more turtles in the canal along the lake.

It was a beautiful afternoon for a hike, I wish I could have stayed out until evening but I wanted to watch my great nephew Charlie play tee ball so I walked back through the wetlands to my Jeep,

stopping to see the bald eagles nest and finding one of the parents tending to the eggs or fledgling eagles.

I returned to the wetlands early Saturday morning.  I knew the wetlands would be a great place to experience the  awakening Spring brings to the flowers and trees, the frogs and  turtles, and the return of the migratory birds. It was an overcast but mild morning with temperatures already in the mid 60’s I was hoping the southerly breeze and warmer temperatures would bring some more migratory birds back to the wetlands.

And it didn’t take long to see some of the birds. . The access road was still closed so I again parked by the nearby. ponds. This time I saw a flock of ring necked ducks swimming on the water,

and a few wood ducks flying off as I  approached.

I heard a chorus of birds singing in the trees tops and woods along the trail, the loudest being the Carolina wrens and northern cardinals. I also heard the quieter sounds of a blue gray gnatcatcher in the trees. It was good too see this migratory bird back in our woodlands.

Nearby a chipping sparrow  was  perched on  a branch covered  with  new leaves.

I walked to the parking lot, and down to the Susquehanna River.  I always enjoy the view of this historic, scenic and ancient river. 

After reflecting along the river I walked into the wetlands seeing some more signs of Spring, the first ostrich ferns were appearing along the trail.

I walked to the Beaver trail  where I always hoped to see  wood ducks but there were none Saturday morning.

I did see some more birds, all new arrivals, red winged blackbirds,

a northern flicker,

and one of my favorite, an eastern towhee. I had seen one of these birds on my hike in Carbon County on Friday and this was my first sighting in the wetlands this year.

I walked over toward the Water Fowl pond, and along the way I saw this male wood duck perched on a tree branch.

 It just perched there, almost like it was posing for me.

I hoped to capture some photos of it flying away but it took off the moment I turned away.

I walked to the Water Fowl  Ponds. There were no water fowl on the pond but I did see a few tree swallows ,

fluttering on some tree branches.

As usual I started my walk toward the river lands.

On the way I saw some more new arrivals to the wetlands, a few palm warblers weed foraging through the leaf litter,

and a few yellow rumped warblers in the bushes along the trail,

 this photo shows why it is named yellow umped warbler . I see both of these birds on my visits to south Florida in the Winter.

In the canal I saw a few mallard ducks,

and green winged teals hanging out together.

The mallards flew off,

but the green winged teals continued to forage in the muck for food.   

I also saw a few Canada geese in the wetlands. They are nesting now and I should be seeing  fluffy yellow goslings in a few weeks. Here is a link to a gallery  on my blog web site with some more photos of the wood ducks and other water fowl I saw on my hikes. Susquehanna Wetlands wood ducks and water fowl. April 17 and 19 2025. 

As I walked into the river lands it  warmed up, temperatures quickly rose into the 70’s with the arrival of a warm front. A few Spring peeper frogs being to sing.

And a lot of turtles emerged from the murky waters in the ponds and canals. 

There were no birds on the lake and no bald eagles flying overhead, or perched in the tree along the lake, only a lot of fishermen and folks walking along the lake and enjoying the Summer like temperatures.

I walked to the end of the lake and began my hike back to the wetlands.  In my younger days a five mile hike ( and I walked two miles earlier near my home so it was actually 7 miles) would not tire me out. These days I’m older and I do get tired on my return hike. So I don’t pay as much attention to the birds and other critters I may see.

However, on this hike , I was still able to hear, see and photograph a flock of rusty blackbirds.

These birds remind me of common grackles, both have sinister looking eyes.

There were also some Carolina wrens singing  along the trail,

a red bellied woodpecker in the tree tops,

some swamp sparrows,

and this female red winged blackbird .  Here is a link to a gallery  on my blog web site with some more photos of the other birds  I saw on my hikes. Susquehanna Wetlands birds . April 17 and 19 2025. 

Back in the wetlands I saw  these last two signs of Spring,  mandrake or May apples  appearing along the trail ,

and these downy yellow violets. 

It was near noon when I finished my five milehike. Once again the wetlands, and Spring,  did not disapoint . I saw so much beauty,  from the delicateyellow  trout lillies to the lush green skunk cabbages,   and from    small  blue gray gnatcatcher to the  magnificant bald eagle.  Spring passes so quickly and I want to enjoy as much of it as I can. Here is a link to a gallery  on my blog web site with some more photos  from my hikes. Susquehanna Wetlands . April 17 and 19 2025. 

 “The beautiful spring came, and when nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also.” – Harriet Ann Jacobs