Wildflowers, Birds And A River Otter On The Last Day Of Summer At The Susquehanna Wetlands.

 I returned to the Susquehanna Wetlands on Sunday, the last official full day of Summer on the calander. This year, as it often does, Fall arrived much earlier metrologically.   Cooler weather and the onset of the Fall colors on the foliage began around  Labor Day. It was a partly cloudy and seasonably cool morning with temperatures in the low 50’s  when I arrived at the wetlands. As usual I stooped at the two lakes near the entrance road to the parking lot and trail-head.

I didn’t see the wood ducks that have been on the Water Fowl pond all Summer,  but this week I saw a few birds along the shore, including this gray catbird,

an eastern phoebe and

a small flock of cedar waxwings. All of these birds will soon be heading south but they are still here since they are only short. distance migrants. Some cedar waxwings remain throughout the Winter in mild years.

I left the ponds and drove into the wetlands and found this fallen log on the road. If I didn’t injury my shoulder I would have try to move it, instead I parked my Jeep along the road and began walking  to the parking lot.

In the Winter I  have to walk in on this road since  it is gated.  I often see year-long residents birds here. There were no birds active  on Sunday.

There were some late Summer wildflowers blooming along the road including white snakeroot flowers, and,

Jerusalem artichoke flowers.

I reached the parking lot and walked down to my favorite  river, the  ancient  and scenic Susquehanna. It was very low  due to the lack of rain and many rocks were exposed in the river bed.

I walked into the wetlands and when I approached the old Susquehanna Canal I heard some splashing. I was excited. I have seen river otters in the wetlands the past few Falls and Winters. I investigated and,  sure enough,  I saw an otter sticking it’s head  out of the waters in the canal,

I heard some rustling in the shrubs above the canal and saw another otter slide into the duckweed covered waters. I waited for about 15 minutes hoping they would  leave the water again but they didn’t. 

I continued on the Beaver Trail toward the  Water Fowl pond. There were a  few hints of Autumn color in the trees but most were still green. 

I saw more wildflowers including white wood asters and

calico asters,

There were also bright red nightshade berries,

white poison ivy berries

winter berries,

and Devil’s beggarticks along the trail.

I walked through the wetlands and,

to the Water Fowl Pond. There were still no wood ducks here, nor any great blue herons, and green herons.

I left the Water Fowl plan and began my hike to the river lands area of this private nature preserve. It is about a mile walk.

I saw a dozen wood ducks on the canals built they all flew off before I could get a photos. I didn’t see the river otters. The bracken ferns and hay-scented ferns were already withered and baron and yellow along the trail.

There were some Christmas ferns which will remain green most of the Winter.

I saw a few gray squirrels scurrying along the trail,

foraging for food, including hickory nuts.

I also saw this banded coolly bear caterpillar, which according to local legend can predict the Winter weather by  the length of the black bands.

As usual in the Spring , Fall and especially in the Winter I see birds travel in small groups foraging for food. I believe they do this for safety. On Sunday morning I saw  a few song sparrows rustling in the leaf liter,

then a noisy flock of tufted titmouse in the tree tops.

A red bellied woodpecker

and a northern flicker were high in the tree tops looking for insects under the dead tree trunks.

I also saw this beautiful northern parula feeding on caterpillars on the oak tree  leaves along the trail. This bird is a long distant migrant. It breeds here in Pennsylvania and north off here and head to Mexico. the Caribbean, Central America and south Florida in the Winter. I love seeing them when I visit the Florida Keys in the Winter. Sadly, it would be the last new species of bird I would photograph on my 5 mile hike.  Here is a link to a gallery on my blog website with some more photos of the birds and wildlife I saw on my hike. Susquehanna Wetlands birds and wildlife . September 21 2025.

I continued to the river lands. This time I didn’t walk on the newly created trails in the meadows in the wetlands. I was looking for the butterflies and insects that were attracted to the blooming wildflowers there but there was no insect activity on this late September morning.

I saw more wildflowers including great blue lobelia and

cutleaf coneflowers

I did see more of the many species of native aster blooming along the trail. These are white-panicle asters.

and these common blue wood asters.

I walked into the  river lands, and on the trail between  Lake Took-A-While and the remains of the old Susquehanna Canal.  Lake took-A-While is a long lake divided into four parts.

There were no Canada geese on the lake, nor green herons or great blue herons. No bald eagles flew overhead. The only bird I saw was a lone double crested cormorant.

Along the lake I found yet another species of aster, these are hairy asters.

Many white snakeroot flowers bloomed along the trail,

as well as a few uncommon biennial guara flowers,

and nodding beggartick flowers.

The milkweed plant seed pods  along the trail had produced their fluffy white seeds,

and the mile a minute weeds and  their blue berries.

I walked to the end of the lake, passing a few folks also enjoying the late Summer sunshine. 

I turned around and walked back to the wetlands. It was a pleasant walk.

I entered the wetlands again, and, as the sun warmed the cool morning air I was glad to hear a few crickets and cicadas, probably  the last I will hear until next Summer.

I was hoping to see the river otters again but they were gone. I only saw a few of the birds I saw earlier and a garter snake that slithered into the grass along the trail.  I wasn’t able to see a lot of wildlife on this hike but I was glad to see the river otters again. I hope to see them again. and share some photos,  before the real cold weather , and the canals and ponds freeze over. I am not a Winter person anymore and I am already looking forward to the arrival of the skunk cabbage and spring peepers. But I will make the best of the Winter and hike here often, although I know it will not be as enjoyable as in the warm month. Here is a link to a gallery on my blog website with some more photos from my 5  mile  hike. Susquehanna Wetlands  September 21 2025.

“Wildlife photography is more than just taking pictures. It is about connecting with nature and understanding the beauty of the natural world.”
― Biju Karakkonam,