2022 Feb 1, Day trip to Lake Guntersville Birding Guntersville, AL

 Today, we rode to Lake Guntersville, stopping at Lake Guntersville Park on Sunset Drive. 

We stopped at McDonald's in Decatur for some apple pies and drinks before heading to Guntersville. 

We sat on a bench near the water's edge, and then I heard this pecking sound. I looked up, and to my surprise, I saw a red-headed woodpecker pecking on a rotten tree. He flew from the rotten tree to a Sweetgum tree. I followed it from tree to tree. Then, I spotted a sparrow scratching in the dirt for food. When it saw me, it flew up into the trees.

Red-headed Woodpecker 

Another of my favorite birds, the downy woodpecker, was aimlessly pecking away on a rotted stump. It was challenging to take a picture because the downy was in shadow, but I managed to get some good photos.

Downy Woodpecker 

We also saw several Canada Geese, white and spotted ducks, and lots of white terns.

We could hear several fish crows above in the trees. Also saw and heard several bluebirds. 

We rode to Marshall County Park, where we saw several ducks and a great gray heron. We also saw a marker of Major Paramoris' Federal Bombardment of Guntersville. 

Major Paramores Federal Bombardment of Guntersville. 

The hill to the immediate left was the site of the 1862 shelling of Guntersville during the War Between the States.
On July 28, 1862, a Federal force under the command of Major J.W. Paramore placed two Parrott guns on the hill. It shelled Guntersville from 7 A.M. to 6 P.M. Captain Cyrus Loomis' First Michigan Battery carried out the shelling, which sent more than one hundred of Guntersville's women and children to the ravine south of town for protection.
The rifled Parrots' guns fired six-pound projectiles greater distances than older smooth-bore cannons and enabled the Yankees to reach across the Tennessee River. Trenches had to be dug to steady the Parrot's guns, which can still be seen atop the hill.
Most shelling concentrated on cotton warehouses and boat construction facilities south of Henry Island, which are now inundated. The Federals attempted to send an attractive force across the river but failed. 
As a result of the bombardment, several homes near the riverbank were burned, and many other homes suffered damage from the shells, including the Nickels and Gilbreath residences. 

Fortunately, both these houses still stand today.
The Chattanooga Daily Rebel reported that the shelling resulted in only two deaths. One was the wife of military General Samuel King Rayburn.

We left Guntersville and rode to Hartselle, stopping at Kroger's Grocery for bottled Mountain Dews and other items. 

We ate a late lunch at O'Bryan's, where I ordered a sirloin Steak with sweet potato and a Diet Coke.

We came home from the old paper mill road, where we saw a red-tailed hawk.

We also stopped at Wheeler Dam, where we saw several American White Pelicans floating down the Tennessee River and a couple of Gray Herons flying overhead. 

American White Pelicans 

It was a great day for birding. 

2022 Feb 1, Day Trip to Guntersville, Alabama

Today, the Hubby and I are going on an adventure to Guntersville. 

I had been told that there was an eagle nest located along Sunset Drive in Lake Guntersville Park. 

We stopped at McDonald's for some apple pies and a Diet Coke.

We saw several people at the park with cameras and large lenses sitting on tripods, watching and waiting for the eagle to leave the nest. 

I had to use the restroom, so I went in search of one, but I did not find one, so we left.

We rode further down into the park, where we found restrooms. Along the way, I spotted several ducks, geese, and seagulls on the waterfront, so we stopped. 

Ducks

People were walking, jogging, and feeding the waterfowl. 

I started taking pictures of the seagulls, geese, and ducks. I spotted several sparrows scratching in the dirt, looking for food. 

One of my favorite birds is the Downy Woodpecker. 

Downy Woodpecker

I  heard a pecking, and this downy woodpecker was going to town on the side of a rotten tree. It was challenging to capture a good picture because he spent most of his time in the shade, but I managed to get a couple of decent shots when he stopped pecking just before flying away.

Hubby spotted a red-headed woodpecker. I was excited to see one, for I had only seen one in the wild. 

Red-headed Woodpecker 

I took pictures of the colorful Bluebirds.

You will not see a bluebird at your backyard feeders. 

Bluebird 

I took many pictures today, but didn't get one of the bald eagles. 

That was okay because I got one of the red-headed woodpeckers. 

We rode to O'Bryan's in Hartselle for a late lunch. I ordered steak and sweet potato. 

We also stopped at Kroger's, where we purchased a few groceries, a bouquet of flowers, and a potted plant.

The flowers that we bought at Krogers

We looked for hawks and bald eagles along the power line near the old Papermill. We spotted a couple of red-tailed hawks but didn't see any bald eagles. 

We stopped at Wheeler Dam, where we saw several Pelicans, cormorants, and a gray heron landing at the substation. 

Gray Heron