Lake Ontelaunee: Ducks, Wooded Trails And Scenic Countryside
After my visit to Middle Creek last week, I decided to look for other lakes in our area that may attract migrating water fowl. I never realized how many different species of ducks pass through our area. I learned that Lake Ontelaunee attracts many species of ducks and other water birds.
Lake Ontelaunee is located in Berks County. It is 42 miles from my home in Hazle Township. It was a nice one hour drive through mainly rural areas and woodlands. I decided to take the longer, and more scenic drive over Hawk Mountain. This is another nationally known birding site, famous for it’s fall hawk migrations.
As it often does on my travels, my mind wandered. I was thinking, who built them? When? What did they do for entertainment? Where did they go to school? What did they think about? So many people, born and died in this beautiful area that I never knew exited.
I have learned it is the Dreibelbis Covered Bridge . It was built in 1869. It has allowed folks to cross beautiful Maiden Creek for 150 years!
After a few wrong turns I soon found the parking area near Lake Ontelaunee. Here is a link to some more photographs from my scenic ride to the lake. Lake Ontelaunee drive March 11 2018.
Unfortunately, the thick brush, and the speed of the flying ducks, kept me from getting a lot of good photos. And I wasn’t able to get any photos of the ducks on the water. The Canada geese were a different story.
They were not afraid of me as I approached the water side. They ignored me as they continued their noisy honking. Here is a link to a video I uploaded to my YouTube channel. 
I walked back to the parking lot again seeing many ducks and geese on the waters of the lake and creek. Here is a link to some more of the birds I saw on my hike. Lake Ontelaunee birds March 10 2018.
It was a cold March day, and felt more like Winter than Spring but it was still an enjoyable walk. I plan to return soon, when the weather warms up and the song birds return. I know Lake Ontelaunee will be a good place to spends the warmer days of Spring and Summer.
― Shaikh Ashraf