The "But, Yet Another Visit To Middle Creek" Story

Trail we followed to view the snow geese and Tundra swans.
Click on images to enlarge them.

It was an ordinary day.  Cool February day with tempera- tures in the low 50s when my wife said we ought to go see the Snow Geese, Tundra Swans and Canadian Geese at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area between Lebanon and Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  The Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area is a special tract set aside for the protection, propagation, management, preservation and controlled harvest of wildlife.  

Signs telling you to stay on the trails.

It is a 400+ acre shallow lake and 70 acres of man-made potholes, ponds and dikes which have been constructed as a marshy habitat for waterfowl.  The lands that surround the preserved area are farmed to provide pasture for waterfowl and other wildlife.  An adjacent ridge is comprised of oak and hickory woodlands.  Beautiful drive as you wind your way from major highways to the Wildlife area.  Every year over a quarter of a million people visit Middle Creek to try and make sightings of water fowl.  Middle Creek was designated a Globally Significant important Bird Area, based on hosting a large percentage of the world's population of Tundra Swans and Snow Geese.  

One of a few Bald Eagles Carol and I spotted.

Carol and I arrived about 4:00 PM and the roads around the area were packed with cars pulled off the road hoping to catch a glimpse of the wildlife.  We pulled into a nearby parking lot to try and find a spot to park so we could walk the Willow Point Trail to a picnic area to view the birds on the water.  Was our lucky day and we found a spot in the front row as someone was leaving.  As we walked the trail toward the picnic area Carol pointed up and there was our first sighting of a Bald Eagle for the day.  Shortly a second Bald Eagle arrived, giving me a few neat photos.  

The only hawk we sighted.

Off in the distance we could see a Heron standing along water's edge, but too far away to take a photo.  We arrived at the picnic area just in time to view a couple of thousand snow geese rise from the water in unison, going left, right and up, all in large synchronated dance movements.  A remarkable sight to see!  My Nikon was clicking as fast as it could.  As I looked skyward I saw a hawk surveying the entire dance.  To one side of me were close to 50 photographers with equipment far greater and more expensive than I, sitting on equally valuable trips-pods that would rotate upon command.  

Serious equipment to document the migration.

The show was just beginning.  We were told to head to see the sights in early morning or late afternoon, since the birds would be in the surrounding fields foraging for grain during the rest of the day.  A half hour after we had arrived, the water area in front of us was covered with birds.  The sound was amazing!  All birds corresponding  with one another at the same time.  It was a moment that you can only visualize if you were there.  

A few of the bird houses along the path.  Made by
my friend Hal who donates his time to the wildlife area.

Telling the difference between the snow geese and the Tundra Swan is fairly easy, since the snow geese have black wing tips.  As soon as they take flight you can see the black on the tips of the wings.  As for the swans, they tend to have a longer neck and are white all over.  The majority of the snow geese are migratory and will be leaving in a few days, while the swans are partially migratory with some remaining at Middle Creek year round.  

The only photograph I have that shows the Tundra Swans.  The
two all white birds are the swans while the others are snow geese.

After an hour of constant noise, Carol and I found our way back to the car.  Along the trail were a few wooden birdhouses for a variety of different types of birds.  Many of these birdhouses are constructed by my friend Hal who taught school with me and now volunteers making the birdhouses for the wildlife area.  My photographs will give you an idea as to what it was like to view the wonder of migrating birds.  Truly amazing and one of God's wonders.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Thousands take flight at one time. The light area at the bottom
are birds on the top of the water.

Two are out of formation.

The leader is calling out directions for landing.

This trees appears to have white flowers, but they are geese in the distance.

Some come very close to you while feeding. 

Geese in flight.

Some are more clear and close to me in this photo.

Birds in flight!  They are magnificent creatures.