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Here is a trio of buffleheads: a female flanked by two males. Like many species of birds, male buffleheads are flashier than females. The contrast of brilliant black patches against white makes these individuals stand out. The male on the left is displaying some violet and green iridescence on its black patches. The iridescent display can vary or be totally absent, depending on the angle of the sunlight.

During the summer months, there seems to be a stable variety of waterfowl species on any given waterway. Pike County, PA sees an abundance of Canada geese, as well as some other species, such as … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 11/18/20

A caddisfly on a river stone, ready to leave the pupal stage.

Fake news for fly fishers

Because of my training as a fisheries biologist, along with some knowledge of aquatic insect life cycles, I’ve made remarks about the hatching process that mayflies and caddisflies go through … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 11/18/20

The luminous glow of this mushroom, dubbed “orange jelly,” is easy to spot against the dark wood of a rotting stump. Jelly fungi are characterized by their squishy gelatin-like appearance.

Mysterious mushrooms

A strange-looking thing showed up in my yard recently, emerging from the forest floor next to a rotting stump, peeping out from among the pine needles and decaying wood. Its egg-shaped form, topped … more

By SANDY LONG | 11/11/20

Here is the bountiful harvest collected from my clearly stunted Peruvian corn patch.

Ping-Pong corn

Towering nearly 15 feet tall, stretching out with long coarse leaves, stout and resilient to the wind, these vegetable giants cast shadows across much of the remainder of the garden. Surely, these … more

By HUNTER HILL | 11/11/20

This is Walker Lake in Shohola, PA taken on October 14. There are various types of forest here, and the maples are bright red and yellow. Some of the oaks are dark yellow and some are still green.

Fall foliage from the air and ground

Fall is here and is making its presence known. Migrating birds are on the move, and I have heard some geese flying high overhead. The other thing that’s flying (downward, anyway) are leaves. … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 11/4/20

A quiet pool on the river where the author fished on a hot July night.

A fishing tale from another time

Logic might dictate that current weather conditions would be reason enough to forget fishing today. The local meteorologists report that this is one of the driest summers on record, with lawns, crops … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 11/4/20

Sediment is, by volume, the largest pollutant in the waters of Pennsylvania; unpaved roads are a major source of such pollution.

Roads and fishes

Does a dirt road have any bearing on the well-being of a fish? It might surprise you to learn that it does—enough to warrant the attention and activism of Trout Unlimited (TU), a leading … more

By SANDY LONG | 10/28/20

Composed and alert, this rabbit reminds me of a meerkat on the open savanna.

Down the rabbit trail

I’ve had such a busy year with building up the homestead that I feel almost a constant need to craft or harvest something for sake of a story. As I sat down to write this, however, I remember … more

By HUNTER HILL | 10/28/20

A close-up of a milksnake found in Pike county reveals round pupils that all non-venomous snakes (in our region) share. Milksnakes have smooth (non-keeled) scales. A “Y” shaped marking is on top of the head, behind the eyes, of this individual.

Colorful leaves, colorful snakes

With the arrival of fall, one does not hear as many animals calling as in the spring and summer (although I’ve been hearing a lot of Carolina wrens and some red-shouldered hawks). The frogs and … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 10/21/20

Another Catskill fall

Fall means different things to different people. Under normal conditions, fall means back to school for students and the beginning of another work year for teachers. Sadly, the virus has interrupted … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 10/21/20

White Deer Lake is one of six glacial lakes located within the Pike County, PA portion of the Delaware State Forest. At 49 acres and a depth of approximately 18 feet, the lake provides excellent opportunities for peaceful paddling or rowing, as well as warm-water fishing for bass and pan fish.

A perfect paddle

A recent event held near my home in Pike County included an evening of amplified music and a fireworks display. Despite being located several miles away, the sounds emanated through the forest, … more

By SANDY LONG | 10/14/20

Soon smoke will linger lazily over the roof of our new smoker once filled with life-sustaining meat.

A hunter’s haze

I woke up this morning wishing I didn’t have to go to work, much like a lot of folks this week. It’s not that I didn’t want to go to work, so much as I would have preferred to be … more

By HUNTER HILL | 10/14/20

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) Downsville Gauge showing low water temperatures from June to September 2020.

Dramatic changes in a six-mile difference

In previous columns, I’ve written that most mayfly hatches on some Catskill tailwaters, with some exceptions, end by August. But a recent trip to the lower East Branch found excellent hatches … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 10/7/20

This is a pair of mantises found in Shohola on September 18. The male is to the left and on top of the female. This pair was coupled for at least 20 minutes. Female mantids are slightly larger than the males and display a distended abdomen due to its egg mass during late summer.

Mating mantises

Although it is starting to get cooler, late summer and early fall is a good time to find assorted insects. Many insects that don’t overwinter in their larval state are near full size and ready … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 10/7/20

The simple act of taking a walk through the forest or along a sparkling waterway like this one in Pike County, PA can reduce anxiety and restore a sense of peace and perspective. Take a dog along and be inspired by its highly engaged sensory appreciation of the experience.

Peace and place

The River Reporter has invited readers to join its Monthly Conversation Experience by reflecting on the following prompt: In this time of upheaval, where do you find refuge and renewal? It will come … more

By SANDY LONG | 9/30/20

There’s no time like fall to enjoy the nature around us.

Take a moment

Before you read this, I invite you to find a comfy chair and get comfortable. Go ahead, I’ll wait. It’s been quite a year to say the least. Every so often, I forget about everything … more

By HUNTER HILL | 9/30/20

Our player for this sequence has just dropped a small chunk of wood. Whether it was an accidental drop, perhaps changing feet for a grip, or deliberate is hard to say. The young hawk has its eye on it.

Sky play

Some species of birds have started their migrations south. In fact, some species, such as the wood thrush, have started several weeks ago. Near the end of August, some raptors have started to … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 9/23/20

September flying ants

We went forward on this early September day with almost no expectations. The river had been quiet these last weeks—few hatching mayflies and fewer rising trout. Normally, at this time of fall … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 9/23/20

Most slugs are hermaphrodites with both female and male reproductive organs. Mating involves finding partners and engaging in “elaborate courtship rituals,” as described on Wikipedia. “Once a slug has located a mate, they encircle each other and sperm is exchanged through their protruded genitalia.”

Slug love

Many of the species of wildlife we are fortunate to co-exist with in the Upper Delaware River region are beautiful, awe-inspiring or just plain interesting. From the majesty of the black bears and … more

By SANDY LONG | 9/16/20

Fascinating as piebalds may be, they are in all ways, besides their appearance, the same as a brown whitetail deer.

Precious piebald

Lot’s of people go hunting every year whether for sport, for food or for family time. This year seems to be no exception, especially with the current pandemic pushing folks to do more outside … more

By HUNTER HILL | 9/16/20

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Currently viewing stories posted within the past 2 years.
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