Middle Creek Waterfowl

Middle Creek Dawn

Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area is perhaps best known for the large flocks of migratory tundra swans and snow geese that pass through in late winter or early spring on their way to nesting grounds in the arctic tundra. I missed the best time this year, but a few of the birds were still there when we visited Middle Creek on Sunday April 5th.

A modest number of tundra swans were resting on the lake at dawn, but provided little in the way of interesting photo opportunities, so I settled for some shots of them flying over the nearby fields.

Tundra Swans

There were even less snow geese remaining, but we found a few scattered birds feeding along the edge of a small pond, or pothole.

Snow Goose

The management area has a substantial population of resident Canadian Geese in addition to the migratory birds that pass through.

Canadian Goose Taking Off

While this area is managed primarily for hunting and game species, it is a a favorite spot for area bird watchers and photographers. The Pennsylvania Game Commission Food and Cover Corps plants crops and maintains the fields, which provides a great deal of valuable wildlife habitat, for both game and non-game species alike.