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This mourning cloak was seen early in April near my home, about the same time the wood frogs started to call. This species has blue spots, as do some other species of butterflies; what sets the mourning cloak apart from the other species is the yellow fringe on the trailing edge of the wings. Many mourning cloaks, like this one, have slightly tattered wings. ..In the spring, look for the butterflies along sunny edges of forest or along trails. They also might be sipping sap from holes in trees.

You might have gone out into the woods on a spring birding trip, or maybe to listen for spring peepers or wood frogs. As far as insects you could have observed, you might have run across a hatch … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 4/19/23

Trout is stocked for Monster Trout Derby

LACKAWAXEN RIVER, PA — The merchants of the Lackawaxen River Watershed have announced the return of the Monster Trout Derby. The merchants in the watershed sponsored 100 brown, brook … more

4/5/24

Testing nesting

There are two kinds of men: those who just buy the new thing their wife wants, and those who volunteer and overpromise a masterfully crafted and cheaper alternative to the product at hand. … more

By HUNTER HILL | 10/26/23

A macro view of the red-and-gray feathering at the nape of the Northern flicker’s head...

Fallen flicker

When I pulled into a local gas station the other day, I noticed the victim of a collision lying near the entrance. It was easy to identify the species with a quick glance at the distinctive … more

By SANDY LONG | 6/9/23

My strawberries are looking great after a mild winter.

Strawberries in springtime

I like plants that you can rely on. Garlic was one of my first true loves in gardening because of its regularity. You plant it in fall; it sprouts in spring; you top it in May or June and pull it and … more

By HUNTER HILL | 4/24/24

A view of the former Wallenpaupack Creek bed. ..

What’s the WCT?

Looking for a late fall hike to catch the final color while exploring an unusual structure and the 5,700-acre lake and wetlands associated with it? Head to Hawley, PA to traipse the Wallenpaupack … more

By SANDY LONG | 10/26/23

Unlike my dogs, Kenzie is a skilled swimmer with a passion for paddling. Here she keeps a watchful eye on her owner and agility training partner, Nancy.

Protecting pets

Picking up where I left off in my last column about keeping pets safe during outdoor adventures—an ounce of prevention (and preparation) is worth a pound of cure. Seize this forewarning and be … more

By SANDY LONG | 4/24/24

My son already dreams of fishing with his daddy; just wait till he realizes the world of opportunity at our fingertips...

The eve of adventure

I don’t recall ever writing a multi-part column before. I prefer to keep my stories concise and gratifying to the loyal reader as well as the perchance peruser. more

BY HUNTER HILL | 10/12/22

Bovines, baby birds and other beautiful things

I’ve been joking with family and friends that this column has become more of a ‘this week on the farm’ update, as opposed to the well rounded, all-inclusive country-living column … more

By HUNTER HILL | 5/24/23

“They say it always rains twice in the forest,” wrote Colin Hunter in response to Lang Elliott’s binaural soundscape, “Thrush Dripscape.” “Firstly the rain falls from the clouds onto the trees. Then, once the rain has stopped falling from the sky, a second ‘forest rain’ falls from the canopy to the ground. This second rain is always more gentle, a softer, less aggressive sound. So well captured in this recording with the beautiful accompanying birdsong. Simply wonderful.” I have often appreciated this phenomenon but had not previously heard it described as perfectly as Hunter does...

Listen up!

Hopefully you are already familiar with the exquisite work of the passionate nature enthusiast Lang Elliot, but if not, you are soon to experience some of the finest nature music of your life. more

BY SANDY LONG | 10/14/22

American robins are the largest North American thrushes, typically ranging from 8 to 10 inches long, with wingspans of approximately 12 to 16 inches. They are characterized by bright orange-red breasts topped with grayish-brown backs, gray wings, and dark gray heads. White eye rings and a white patch under the tail are other notable features of this beloved songbird...

Appreciating American robins

“When the red, red robin comes bob, bob bobbin’ along, along—there’ll be no more sobbing when he starts throbbing his own sweet song,” declared Harry Woods when he wrote … more

By SANDY LONG | 5/24/23

Butterflies make the best accessories to a garden.

Sweet drinks are made of these

Rain, rain, go away, but please come back another day. Preferably a weekday, when I’m stuck inside between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., with enough days before the weekend to dry up nicely. more

BY HUNTER HILL | 6/8/22

The author's spinning rod, rigged for bobber fishing.

Bobbin’ for bass and browns

Those of you who read this column know that most of the articles I write are dedicated to fly fishing. However, once in a while, I come across some notes or recall a fishing event that might appeal … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 12/27/23

A time for melancholy?

An editor once told me in an email message that some of my writing occasionally tended toward melancholy. Looking back at a collection of the pieces that I’ve written for the River Reporter, I cannot take exception with that sentiment. more

BY TONY BONAVIST | 11/16/22

This yellow-billed cuckoo lost its life when it collided with a window. The normally elusive bird is hard to spot but has a recognizable repetitive call that can alert one to its presence. Cuckoos are especially beneficial as they consume large quantities of hairy caterpillars such as the gypsy moth and tent caterpillars, which are damaging trees in the Upper Delaware River region. Cuckoos are jay-sized birds ranging between 10 1/2 to 12 1/2 inches, with slender bodies that are feathered brown above and white below. They have slightly curved bills with yellow lower mandibles.

Fatal flight

Spring is a time of expansive abundance. more

BY SANDY LONG | 6/8/22

Be safe on the river

BEACH LAKE, PA — If you’re going out on the Upper Delaware River this fall or winter—whether that’s in a boat, canoe or kayak—you will need a cold-water personal floatation device. more

11/16/22

Jamie’s parachute Hendrickson nymph

When Jamie called and invited me to meet him on the river, at first I declined—there were several projects that needed attention. But during our conversation, especially when he explained … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 5/16/23

Along roads, deer can be found traveling down the road or foraging for food, especially if there is a lot of snow present. That was the case on this Pike County secondary road. If deer are crossing the road during the rut, they may be involved in the rut, or being pushed by hunters walking in the woods. If either is the case, the deer will be crossing the road on the run.

Caution—amorous deer on the road

With the arrival of fall comes the movement of many animals—birds are migrating, reptiles and amphibians that are still out are headed to winter hibernation spots, and many mammals are gathering mass or bulking up for the lean winter. more

BY SCOTT RANDO | 11/16/22

This is a female ruby-throated hummingbird in a neighbor’s garden. A variety of flowers in most gardens will attract hummingbirds, as well as a variety of butterfly species. ..Females lack the red patch on the throat. ..Hummingbirds have a thin tongue that extends outward from the bill, and aids with collecting nectar from flowers. The hummingbirds' act of feeding aids in the pollination of many species of flowering plants.

Hummingbird migration 2023

With the arrival of the first spring flowers come the first sightings of nature’s pollinators. Bees, butterflies, moths and many other animals can be seen gathering nectar from spring flowers, … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 5/16/23

The bridge pool on the upper Clark Fork River, where we used to fish.

Fishing the Clark Fork River

When I arrived in Missoula, MT, with my friend Joe after a long cross-country bus ride, the first river I saw was the Clark Fork. At the time, we were enrolled as students at the University of … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 5/31/23

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Currently viewing stories posted within the past 2 years.
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