Susquehannock State Park, PA (10/24/14)
We were trying to figure out how many times we've been here and settled on three times for sure, and maybe another visit. Want to hear something funny? 9 years ago, the first time we were here was on Oct. 23., and today is Oct. 24. The weather was perfect and the wind was decent. We studied immature Bald Eagles. At one point, Karen, being the more vigilant birder (she's making a habit of it), spotted a third-year Bald Eagle. I was too slow and missed it. Drats.
Since it was a Raptor day, of those we saw: Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, another unidentified Buteo and unkown Accipiter, Bald Eagle, American Kestrel, and possible fem. Sharp-shinned Hawk. Another bird of note was a Ring-necked Pheasant crossing the road on our approach to the park. (If Karen hadn't slammed on the brakes we'd have had "Pheasant under Fender" for dinner.) Also at the park, a variety of Gulls, Terns, a Great Blue Heron, Canada Goose, Cormorant, Crow, Titmouse, Chickadee, Red-bellied Woodpecker. A few others we picked up here and there: Pigeon, Mockingbird, Blue Jay, Cardinal, House Sparrow.
Since it was a Raptor day, of those we saw: Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, another unidentified Buteo and unkown Accipiter, Bald Eagle, American Kestrel, and possible fem. Sharp-shinned Hawk. Another bird of note was a Ring-necked Pheasant crossing the road on our approach to the park. (If Karen hadn't slammed on the brakes we'd have had "Pheasant under Fender" for dinner.) Also at the park, a variety of Gulls, Terns, a Great Blue Heron, Canada Goose, Cormorant, Crow, Titmouse, Chickadee, Red-bellied Woodpecker. A few others we picked up here and there: Pigeon, Mockingbird, Blue Jay, Cardinal, House Sparrow.
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Heading to Susquehannock, a look at Amish country in Lancaster County, PA.
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Near the parking lot we spot a Red-tailed Hawk feeding on the ground.
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He didn't stay long and flew in our direction to check us out before veering off.
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A huge and beautiful sky today at Wissler's Run Overlook.
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The view to the right of the overlook is a ridge of mountains.
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The actual overlook is a three-sided, chain-link fence.
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Surprise! A train came through. We waved to the engineer, gave the signal, and he made the appropriate response.
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Something about this picture of Karen touches my heart.
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Too slow with the camera this trip, Mom barely manages to catch a bird as it flew by in front of us. The whole bird is there, you just have to look for it.
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Another Bald Eagle enjoying it's own overlook.
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That's a Bald Eagle sitting on a rock in the middle of the river.
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Here are two of them before the water came up and there was still space.
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The power lines show up in the picture, but you hardly take notice of them when you're there.
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A few Eagles resting on another rock. At one point we counted 7 or 8 Eagles, if I remember right.
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The first time we were here the Gulls had the larger of the rocks. This time the Cormorants claimed both.
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A boat cut a swath through a raft of Gulls floating on the water.
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About 50' back from the outlook, a place to store provisions and rest.
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The Gulls like to hang out on the water near the plant.
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Karen looking at the Turkey Vultures over her head.
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The view looking back up the 1/3-of-a-mile trail we came down on.
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There's color near the ground, too.
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The emerald green of cushion moss.
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Heading back up the trail we spot Mile-a-Minute Weed aka Asiatic Tearthumb, an alien invasive.
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The bright blue berries and triangle shaped leaves give it away.
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Back up at Hawk Point, the better known of the two outlooks here.
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Various sized islands dot the river.
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Wheel Bug
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The unusual angle on this Wheel Bug offers a good look at it's hefty beak.
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A spider on the left and, forgive me, but doesn't that rock on the right look like a petrified thumb, complete with nail?
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Green chelicerae (jaws) give away the ID of one of many jumping spiders.
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A little red ant
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The ubiquitous Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, also an alien invasive.
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Mom's first Weevil. It turns out to belong in the "Nut and Acorn" weevil family because of that long, thin snout.
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White Snakeroot's flowers are impossible to tell apart from Boneset with the naked eye. Thank goodness the leaves make it easy to ID.
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More evidence of Mile-a-Minute Weed. No wonder it can destroy an eco-system in short order - it smothers everything.
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View of path back to car.
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Pumpkins covering acres of ground with orange polka dots as we head back home.
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Minutes from home, Karen makes a quick stop at a store and I find a tiny hitchhiker on the roof of the car. I can't help but wonder if it came all the way from Pennsylvania.
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