A visit to "The Muck" - State Game Lands 313 - Wellsboro, Tioga County, Pennsylvania

This past Saturday afternoon, I visited  “The Muck”  as it is locally known, it has a short gravel trail leading to a boardwalk which ends a blind in the middle of State Game Lands 313. It is located off Route 287 in Wellsboro Junction - just watch for the big 'The Muck' sign.

The gravel trail leading to the blind

Looking out over the wetlands from the blind area

SGL 313 is on a major flyway and birders come from all over to observe the species that may appear here.  However; there was no one there when I arrived  at 1:10pm (the last visitor to sign the log was two days before) and after spending about 1hour and 35 minutes in the blind, observing  a total of 27 species and just taking in the views out the windows at the surrounding wetlands and mountains.  I packed up my gear and left for the day - I truly enjoy birding at this location and can't wait for my next visit in a few weeks - below is a good link to the Muck site for the local Audubon Society.

tiadaghton audubon - the muck marsh

Some of the species I observed included: Hooded Mergansers, Canvasback, Wood Duck, Ring Necked Duck, Swamp Sparrow, Barn Swallow and Eared Grebe.

Horned Grebe - molting into breeding plumage

Canvasback - taken with Iphone

I you are ever in Wellsboro...do yourself a favor, and be sure to visit one of the better birding spots in Tioga county...you may surprised at what species you will observe at The Muck..

Until Next time. 

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