Nature
A Sunny Sunday Morning At The Susquehanna Wetlands
It was sunny, and cool Sunday morning here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. As I often do, I headed to the Susquehanna Wetlands in Luzerne County to enjoy the Summer sunshine and the beauty of the wetlands and river lands along the ancient Susquehanna River. I always walk to the river to check out the water level…
Read MoreSummer Beauty Of Nature At Community Park In Hazle Township.
I love to walk. I hike five mile a day during the week and seven miles or more on weekends. And I love Summer. It is my favorite time of year. These past few weeks I was able to get in a few afternoon hikes at the Community Park located near my home in…
Read MoreAnother Summertime Hike On The Greater Hazleton Rails To Trails
The forecast called for some severe weather Saturday afternoon so I decided to play it safe and hike close to home, on the Greater Hazleton Rails to Trails in Luzerne County Saturday morning. I decided to start on hike on the end of the trail, on the parking area near the village of Hazle Brook.…
Read MoreAn August Hike In The Wetlands Along The Ancient Susquehanna River
We had more heavy rain on Saturday here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Rain in August is a good thing for folks like me, who love to forage for edible wild mushrooms. So early on Sunday morning I checked out my few favorite remaining mushroom spots (most of my best mushroom woods are now warehouses, industrial parks…
Read MoreEnjoying Nature Under The Changing Skies At Community Park
I returned to the local Community Park near my home in Hazle Township Luzerne County for a few more afternoon hikes these past two weeks. I love my hikes out here. I have been visiting the park since I was six years old. I begin my leisurely 3 mile hikes by walking, at least once,…
Read MoreNot A Lot Of Wildlife, But Still A Nice Hike In Locust Lake State Park
It was a sunny and cool August morning last Saturday here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Temperatures were in the low 50’s. Too cool for a hot weather lover like me. But still a nice hiking weather so I decided to return and hike in Locust Lake State Park in Schuylkill County. On my visit last month…
Read MoreAnother Hike To The Spectacular View At Tank Hollow, And I Saw Some Wildlife On This Hike Too!
I decided to return to Tank Hollow on Sunday morning. It was another cool morning here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The skies were clear and I thought it would be a good day to enjoy the spectacular view from the Tank Hollow Overlook. The overlook is located in State Game Lands 141 in Carbon County. In…
Read MoreHerons, Wood Ducks And A Bald Eagle. Another Great Hike In The Susquehanna Wetlands.
It was cloudy and mild when I arrived at the Susquehanna Wetlands in Luzerne County early Saturday morning. I wasn’t there last weekend and so I looked forward to my usual five mile hike. And, as usual, I hoped to see a bald eagle, river otter, bobcat, cinnamon bear, red fox or any of the…
Read MoreMy First Visit To Brady’s Lake In State Game Lands 127 In Monroe County
Until last Saturday, I had never heard of Brady’s Lake. It is located only 37 miles from my home in Luzerne County in State Game Lands 127 in Monroe County . It is late August and I am usually roaming the woodlands near my home searching for wild edible mushrooms. However, the weather had been…
Read MoreA Visit To The Delaware State Forest In Pike County, And 20,000 Year Old Glacial Bruce Lake
This past Saturday, like the week before, I again visited another lake I had never heard of before. This time it was Bruce Lake in Pike County. Located in the Delaware State Forest Bruce Lake is a natural lake created when the glaciers melted 15, 000 to 20,000 years ago. There are over 2,500 lakes…
Read MoreA Quick September Hike In The Susquehanna Wetlands, And Then A Successful Search For Mushrooms
It’s September already. How did that happen? It seems like it was just yesterday when I was waiting for the first robin to return. Well it did happen. Summer is nearing it’s end. . It is September. And September is usually the peak mushroom season here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I enjoy foraging for edible wild…
Read MoreLate Summer Walks In Community Park , One With A Great Blue Heron
Late August and September are the peak months of mushroom season here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. So most my afternoons are usually spent foraging for the many species of edible wild mushrooms I love to find, eat and share with family and friends. But, I was still able take a couple of hikes in the Community…
Read MoreA Cloudy But Pleasant September Hike In The Susquehanna Wetlands
It was cloudy here in Northeastern Pennsylvania last Saturday, not the best weather for wildlife photography. A few of my birding friends texted me about the first sighting of flamingos in Pennsylvania. They were seen on a pond in Franklin County , about a 2 1/2 hour drive from my home in Hazle Township in…
Read MoreBeautiful Trails, A Lake And A Lot of History But No Wildlife At Ricketts Glen State Park
It’s been a year since I last visited Ricketts Glen State Park. This was too long. I need to visit this wonderful park more often. It is about 40 miles, and a one hour drive, from my home in Southern Luzerne County. It located atop the edge of the Allegheny Plateau in Luzerne, Colombia and…
Read MoreAs Usual, I Found Some Wildlife At The Susquehanna Wetlands
I returned to the Susquehanna Wetlands in Luzerne County last Sunday. I enjoyed hiking in Ricketts Glenn State Park on Saturday but I was disappointed not seeing a lot of wildlife. I lke sharing the critters I see on my weekly hikes here in my blog and on social media. . So I decide to…
Read MoreThe First Fall Colors Appear At Community Park.
I will admit, I am not a big fan of Fall anymore. I once was. I loved the changing seasons and the cooler days of Fall. I even liked what followed, I loved Winter and snow. Those who know me may find that hard to believe. Now I dread the cold and dark days of…
Read MoreAutumn Arrives At The Susquehanna Wetlands
It was two weeks since I last hiked in the Susquehanna Wetlands in Luzerne County . Autumn arrived here in Northeastern Pennsylvania since my last visit. On Saturday, when I returned, I found the wetlands and river lands have begun their annual transformation from the lush green colors of Spring and Summer to the many …
Read MoreThe First Hint Of Fall Color At the Greater Hazleton Rails To Trails
The first colors of Fall appeared here in Northeastern Pennsylvania this past week. The red maple, gray birch and aspen trees are the first trees to show hints of the annual explosion of color that occurs in our woodlands. The shortening days and cooler temperatures that arrive in the Fall start this slow process. I…
Read MoreA Quiet, Somber October Hike in The Susquehanna Wetlands
Like March in the Spring, October is a transitional month. Temperatures could range from the mid 80’s to the 20’s. The weather could be warm and sunny one day or cloudy with snow flurries the next day. Almost as unpredictable as March, October is. However, unlike March, things don’t get better in October for long…
Read MorePanama Day Two. My First Morning At Canopy Tower. As Advertised, It Is A Nature And Birding Paradise
It was only about a month ago when I first learned of Canopy Tower. Canopy Tower is one of a family of ecolodges located in the biodiverse tropical rain forests of Panama and operated by the Canopy Family. There is more on how I discovered this remarkable place in my previous blog. The Tower is…
Read MoreAn Unseasonably Mild October Hike In The Susquehanna Wetlands With A Lot Of Fallen Leaves And Birds
I returned to one of my favorite hiking trails on Saturday. The Susquehanna Wetlands in Salem Township Luzerne County. I try an visit this private nature preserve every week, but it was three weeks since my last visit. I was in Panama. One of the reasons for my trip was too see some of the …
Read MorePanama Day 2: Torrential Rains And A Visit To Summit Botanical Gardens And It’s Famous Harpy Eagle
After our morning hike near the Canopy Tower eco-lodge in Panama we gathered to discuss the birds and other animals we saw on our walk and add them to a very elaborate check list provided by the lodge . It was a very informative experience. We the enjoyed a nice lunch. Soon afterward the skies…
Read MorePanama Day 3: Canopy Tower: Birds On The Roof Top And A Morning Hike On Pipeline Road
Pipeline Road. That is where we would be hiking my second morning during my recent stay at the Canopy Tower eco-lodge in Panama. We were told this is where are next birding adventure would take place after going over our checklist the previous evening. I never heard of Pipeline Road but, doing some research after…
Read MoreThe Birds Sure Liked The Berries At The Susquehanna Wetlands
I wasn’t sure where to hike when I awoke Saturday morning. It was the latest sunrise of the year and still dark when I took my usual two mile morning walk through my neighborhood. I have been taking my morning walk, in all kinds of weather, for over 30 years. It was a beautiful sunrise…
Read MorePanama Day 3: Canopy Tower: A Rainy Afternoon And A Visit To The Panama Rainforest Discovery Center.
It was an amazing morning hike on the Pipeline Road on my third morning in the Soberania National Park in Panama. The Pipeline Road lived up to it’s reputation and provided us with the sightings of many tropical birds. But the day wasn’t over and a visit to the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center was planned…
Read MorePanama Day 4: Canopy Tower: A Morning Hike On Plantation Road In Soberania National Park
It was another overcast morning when I awoke at the Canopy Tower in the Soberania National Forest in Panama. It was Thursday , only my third morning at the ecolodge, but I already felt at home. Once again I was up before the sunand soon on the rooftop of the abandoned U.S. military radar facility. …
Read MorePanama Day 4: Canopy Tower: A Sloth, A Snake And A Visit to Summit Ponds
My Thursday morning hike on the Plantation Road further convinced me that my decision to visit the Canopy Tower ecolodge in the Soberania National Park in Panama was an excellent one. Once again our experienced guide introduced us to many more of the wonders of the rainforest. It was only my third day at the…
Read MorePanama Day 5: Canopy Tower: A Visit To The Metropolitan Natural Park And Causeway In Panama City
I was up early again on Friday, my fourth morning during my stay at the Canopy Tower ecolodge in Panama. We were leaving the lodge and driving to Panama City to visit the Metropolitan Natural Park. Our breakfast was served at 6:30 a.m. but all of the guest in the lodge ( 6 of us) …
Read MoreIt’s Sunday, And, As Usual, Another Great Hike In The Susquehanna Wetlands
It was Sunday morning, and, as usual, I had many great hiking trails to chose from near my home in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I thought about the trails in the many State Parks and Forest a short drive from my home. But as I often do, I decided to return to the Susquehanna Wetlands and River…
Read MorePanama Day 5: Canopy Tower. A Vist To The Gamboa Sloth Sanctuary And A Kinkajou And Night Monkeys Visit
It was a great morning visit to Panama City on my last full day at the Canopy Tower. This ecolodge is located in the Soberania National Park in a Panamanian rainforest. But the day wasn’t over. As on all my days during my stay at the Canopy Tower, another adventure was scheduled for the afternoon.…
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