Unexpected Snow And Ice Along The Lehigh River In Cementon.

I decided to head south and hike along the Lehigh River on the D & L trail on Sunday. I enjoyed hiking in the snow free trails in the Susquehanna Wetlands Saturday. However I knew there was still a lot of snow and ice near my home in Hazle Township in Luzerne County. So I thought I’d be safe driving 30 miles south and start my hike at the River Drive trail head on the D & L trail in Lehigh County.

I thought I made the right decision as the snow along the road gradually lessened and finally disappeared as I drove the 30 miles south of my home.

However when I arrived at the trail parking lot and left my Jeep I was surprised to find snow and ice on the trail, just enough to make walking a bit difficult.

I had only hiked this section of the D & L trail once before , on a cold and blustery day in early January . Despite the cold and wind I saw a lot of bird activity and hoped to see a lot on this hike.

I was off to a good start, At the start of my hike I saw a tufted titmouse,

and a small flock of golden crowned kinglets in the trees above the trail. I expected to see a lot more so I didn’t spend a lot of time trying to get photos. I should have, I wouldn’t see any more of these birds, and not many others on my five mile hike.

I walked south on the trail , toward Cementon. The first part of the trail was along busy Route 145. It wasn’t a quiet hike. There was the constant noise of the trucks and cars on the highway.The Lehigh River was on the other side of the trail. I was surprised to see some ice floating in the river. I was convinced it would be ice free. And I didn’t see any of the geese and ducks I thought would be swimming in the river. There were a few snow free stretches on the trail which made for much easier walking.

The trail veered from Route 145 and it became a quieter walk. However there was still almost no bird activity. I only saw a few invasive starlings in the tree tops. I was surprised since I saw so many birds on my last hike . There were quite a few woodpeckers, including some pileated woodpeckers. I didn’t see a one on this hike .

The skies were clear and I was walking into a brilliant late February sun. It was a seasonably cold 25 degrees when I started my hike but the  strengthening February sun began to warm it up.

I crossed a couple of pole lines were I saw a few red tailed hawks soaring in the skies  and a lot of  white throated and song sparrows  along the trail on my last hike. There were none on Sunday.

I next came to a sewage treatment plant and the creek. On my last hike I saw flocks of white throated sparrows, song sparrows, dark eyed juncos and Carolina wrens here. Not a birds was seen on Sunday.

I continued on the trail which now came ridge. The railroad right of way was cut into the ridge exposing cliffs of slate.

Icicles formed on the steep side of the cliffs.

The water  dripping from the side of the ridge  that formed the icicles also created a sheet of ice on the trail making it difficult to walk. This was not the hike I had expected to take.

I came across what looked like a telephone box for the Lehigh Valley railroad. The trail follows the abandoned right of way of  this once famous railroad.

I was hearing mallard ducks on the river but didn’t see any. In fact I  didn’t see and bird or mammal activity. And only one brave human was running on the icy trail. There were now some snow and ice free stretches  on the trail.

I continued on the trail and as I approached the town of Cementon I noticed ice on the Lehigh River. I walked closer to the river and found it frozen solid. I was surprised since the Lehigh is a fast moving river and further south the the Susquehanna River which was not frozen the day before.

The trail entered the town and  along a small park and the backyards of some residence.  The large cement plants,  after which the town was named,  could be seen in the distance. I was again greeted by large barking dogs in one of the yards that I met  here on my first, and only visit, last month.

It was here, in the park along the river I had hoped to see some ducks. All I saw was the ice on the river.

I walked past the parking lot and to a bridge over the Lehigh River on  Main Street in Cementon.

It appeared the bridge  slowed the flow of the river and caused the ice to build. The river was frozen solid north of  the bridge,

and  mostly ice free on the other side of the bridge.

I walked back to the parking lot for the trail head, with the large cement plants  across the road.

There wasn’t a car on the parking lot and, as I noted, I saw only one person running on the trail on my 2 1/2 mile hike.

I began my hike under the brilliant sunshine and clear blue skies.

In the back yards of the  homes along the trail I saw a few house finches

and another flock of an  invasive species of bird,  house sparrows.

About half way back to my Jeep I heard a flock of Canada geese, and watched them fly over,

and land on the river. From here, to the trail head I now saw a many flock of honking Canada geese on the river. There must have been hundreds of them. I am guessing they spent the night on the river, flew into the corn fields for a morning meal, and where back on the safety of the river.

I walked past the slate cliffs, and

the ice formations  that glistened in  the bright sunshine.

I now saw a few more folks hiking on the trail as I neared the end of my hike.

I didn’t see much wildlife activity  just a gray squirrel and a few song sparrows.

Near the River Drive  trail head there are a few homes along the Lehigh River. I wondered how long they were there whether the people live there permanently or just use them as recreational homes. I am sure they would get flooded pretty often, The bright sunshine  melted some of the ice and frozen ground and the trail was now muddy.

I noticed some frozen garlic mustard along the trail. I was hoping to find a lot of this edible plant on this hike and even brought a bag to gather some. However, like in the wetlands, this years cold Winter was too much for this hardy plant.  I have  harvested  garlic mustard throughout the Winter the past few years.

I did see another green plant in a stream along the trail, watercress, also edible and a first sign of Spring.

I was now near the end of my hike and just thinking how disappointing it was for seeing bird activity when I saw this red tailed hawk fly  overhead and land on a tree branch across Route 145.

It didn’t stay long, but long enough to take and  share a few photos.  Here is a link to a gallery on my webpage with some more photos of the birds I saw on my hike. D & L  River Drive hike birds February 23 2o24.

It was around 11 a.m. when I  finished my five mile hike and was back at the parking lot on River Drive.  It wasn’t  a great day for  seeing wildlife, and I wasn’t happy about the icy and snow covered trail, but it was still a great hike, allowing me to get some exercise and fresh air. I love hiking, and  just  keeping my eyes peeled and looking for some bird or other wildlife to share is almost as enjoyable as finding it. I hope to return here  in the Spring when I think I will find some cool stuff to share. Here is a link to a gallery on my web-page with some more photos from my five mile  hike. D & L  River Drive hike  February 23 2o24.

 

“Every winter has its spring”. H. Tuttle