Hawk Mountain

Located in Berks County, Pennsylvania, this privately held land exists for the purpose of allowing and observing the migration of raptors as they make their way South in the Fall and North in the Spring.  Thousands of these birds of prey pass over this area, brought here because of thermals that allow for lower-energy travel.  We had been here before deep in the off-season (late Winter), and were very happy with the solitude, the hiking/climbing, and the views.  This trip was made in the height of the raptor migration season, and, although we were there on a weekday, many others had the same idea, sitting at the best viewing points, often for many hours, to see and count the birds as they passed overhead.

Hawk Mountain encourages all who visit to help in their annual bird counts in an effort to track species, and the numbers seen are tallied daily.  Click here to see up-to-date totals.  There is a nominal trail charge.

Temperature – 50 degree F.

Weather – Mostly cloudy with occasional bursts of clear sunshine.

Trail Surface – Sometimes smooth and often very rocky with some moderate climbs that require some hand-gripping.

Flora – Oaks, beeches, maples all in various fall hues that made for some pretty spectacular colors.

Fauna – We saw Turkey Vultures, some sharp-shinned hawks, and some buteos that were too far away to be properly identified as well as the ubiquitous chipmunks.  These latter were sinewy compared to the sunflower-fed layabouts in our yard.

 

A Buteo much closer than we saw any!

Facilities – A really nice central building with bathrooms, a gift shop, and other raptor resources.  This center is surrounded by a deer-proofed native plant and bird area that is wonderful with a blind, a small marsh, and, while we were there, caterpillars looking for secure cocooning spots.

Other People Seen – Many, including at least two busloads of school children who were doing their jobs, commenting loudly on EVERYTHING so that we old people could purse our lips and look with concern at the Youth of Today.

This is a great place to go, whether during migration season or during the very quiet offseason when you can hear the sound that two trees make rubbing together in the wind.

Chickies Rock Park, Marietta, PA.

This park is very popular with locals of Lancaster and York Counties and is a destination for rock climbers. Chickies Ridge provides easy hiking/walking as well as technical climbing opportunities. This may good and bad as at least one person per year seems to die here, often as result of combining climbing and alcohol.

We were accompanied on this outing by Andrew, a smaller hiker whose lower vantage point gave us a glimpse of interesting fauna. While searching for just the right items for collecting, Andrew saw an acorn that seemed to be moving! Bending closer, it turned out to be this colorful snail who seemed seemed not to care that it was thought to be some kind of nut.

The trail is a moderate climb but is quite wide and easy to the lookout point. The views of the Susquehanna River never fail to please, and one is presented with several alternative return trails that are steeper and more narrow if you want.

Temperature – About 55 degrees F.

Weather – Cloudy with occasional sprinkle.

Trail Surface – Crushed stone on the main trail which would allow bicycles and strollers as well as a hardy wheelchair.

Flora – A few last wildflowers but not much else of interest at this time of year.

Fauna – The usual perching birds as well as a few Turkey Vultures cruising the thermals over the river.

Facilities – No bathrooms, no picnic tables, no benches except at the look-out point. Parking for about 10 cars at the foot of the trail.

Other People Seen – None.

One can spend 40 minutes or 3 hours here, walk at a leisurely and easy pace or do some climbing, sit quietly on a rock and look out at the river, or all of these. We thought the snail the best view of a very nice day

Middle Creek Wildlife Refuge

This refuge ( Middle Creek ) is real favorite of those who like to see lots of birds!  Once can visit here at the right time of the year and see literally tens of thousands of birds, various waterfowl resting in the lake after foraging in surrounding fields on their way north or south.  It is staggering to see 5,000 Arctic swans (two in flight ) coming in to roost on a late spring afternoon, and this sight is common here. As is our custom, though, we decided to come during a time when no birds and, hopefully, few people, would be here.  The tour road through the refuge closes in September, and, although the parking lots and center are open, the hordes that descend were, indeed, absent.

We had intermittent sunshine and clouds and, aside from a man picking up acorns (“to feed the squirrels in February,” he told us), we saw no one else.  The trails in these 5,000 acres are plentiful and well-marked, allowing all-day or shorter jaunts.

Temperature – 66 F

Weather – Mostly Cloudy

Trail Surface – Woodsy path with some large rocks and roots.  This is not suitable for anything but the hardiest mountain biker.

Flora – There were great Fall colors with huge fields of Goldenrod and milkweed pods exploding much to the delight of those red and black bugs pictured above.  A few bees buzzed on the remaining wildflowers.

Fauna – The usual squirrels, robins, Blue Jays, nuthatches, and chickadees, the latter scolding us for no apparent reason!

Facilities – Bathrooms at the visitors Center and picnic tables, some with grills, scattered pleasingly along the trails.

Other People Seen – None on the trail.

We had a wonderful time spending about 3 hours just soaking up the woods.