’ve spent many weeks family camping at Assateague State Park in Maryland. While the children were still sleeping, I’d hop on my 10 speed, camera around my neck, and ride the bike trails and side roads all along the island’s bay. The area was always so rich in wildlife and I always attributed that to the nutrients and lush plant growth that the water supplies. I no longer camp, but I still find local “wet areas” that reap similar benefits.
My local “go to” aquatic hot spots include the Phifer Ice Dams, local farm ponds, some secluded coves of Beltzville Lake, the lower section of the Lehigh Canal, various trails along Lizard Creek and the pristine tributaries of Penn Forest Reservoir.
There are certainly other areas in the Times News region that I don’t visit as much, but Mauch Chunk Lake and marshy areas near Hauto and on the Pocono Plateau would also be great. I enjoy seeing the variety of birds that feed in or around them. I also find a variety of amphibians and reptiles that either live in these habitats, seek refuge there or, in many cases, hibernate there as well. With the abundance of water, a variety of plants and insects also thrive in these conditions.
I’d like to show you a few animals and plants I find or often find in these areas. Some, like the great egret, don’t breed here, but regularly show up for a few weeks in spring and sometimes for a month in late summer and early fall. Conversely, great blue herons will nest in our area, and some even tough it out all winter.
If you don’t mind a few bugs and can keep your feet dry, give these locations a try. Just get out there.
Test Your Outdoor Knowledge: The bar-tailed godwit is the longest nonstop migrating bird that has been documented, flying ____ hours without stopping to rest? A. 110; B. 140; C. 200; D. 237.
Last Week’s Trivia Answer: Besides stink bugs, lady bird beetles and house flies regularly make it into our homes to escape the cold, drying winter conditions.
Nature note: As of Sept. 27, I was still seeing migrating tree swallows and a few chimney swifts. I was impressed with the number of blue jay flocks I’ve seen migrating since Sept. 21. They may peak near the end of September, but if you are near areas like the Mahoning Mountain, Pohopoco Mountain, the crest of the Blue Mountain, Bear Mountain or any ridge top, look for the loose flocks of jays flying just above the treetops, often stopping briefly before continuing their southwestward migration.
Email Barry Reed at breed71@gmail.com
ABOVE: A sunny April day will coax painted turtles from the cool pond waters onto rocks, stumps or even limited space on a floating, rotting tree trunk. They certainly packed themselves like sardines to take advantage of the much-needed warming sun.
In a small pond north of Palmerton I found this spotted turtle in early May. I believe our area has four turtle species that live in ponds/lakes, etc. These same bodies of water lure at least two other species there in autumn for their hibernation locations.
In late September, the marshes of Assateague Island would sustain hundreds of great egrets. But if you look in the right places at the right times, you’ll probably catch a few of these birds in local waterways, like this one at the Phifer Ice Dam in Franklin Township.
My father and his brothers would float the Pohopoco Creek in their inner tubes on hot summer days and see many northern water snakes lying in wait on limbs just above the water. I’ve learned to find them sunning themselves on the rip rap near small bridges spanning smaller streams.
A green frog, smaller than the bullfrog, is common in ponds and marshes, where it waits to snag unwary bugs that venture too close.
Meanwhile, a green heron will carefully monitor pond shores, looking for small fish, and of course, green frogs.
Atop the pond’s surface patrols water striders (not spiders). These unique insects have special “hairs” on four of their legs that allow them to use the water surface tension to glide, rather quickly, pursuing small bugs. They use their two fore feet to catch and hold the prey. BARRY REED/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS
Patiently waiting near the bottom of a pond for aquatic insects is the giant water beetle. At a little over 1 inch in length, you may see them when they back up to the water surface and use a snorkel-like device on their abdomen to poke above the water to breathe. After gulping some air, the beetle drops back to lie in wait on the bottom.
Usually winging above the pond looking for mosquitoes or small flying insects are green darner dragonflies. They, along with other dragonfly species and damselflies, are part of the aerial insect patrol.
RIGHT: Sometimes caught on the move between water sources or finding egg-laying spots are our biggest turtles, the snapping turtle.
As the water warms, the last of the frogs to emerge from hibernation are bullfrogs. These big frogs become vocal at night for a 4- to 6-week period in summer while trying to attract mates.
As summer progresses, many pond surfaces become completely covered by pond lilies, which when they flower, add some color to nature’s palette. BARRY REED/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS