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 

2021 Oct 15, National Mushroom Hike at Joe Wheeler

 Today at 10:00 A.M., I took a hike on the Jimmy Sims Birding Trail with a group of people led by Sam Woodroof, a park ranger for Joe Wheeler. 

We saw Chanterelles, Jelly, Puffballs, and mushrooms. Mushrooms are fruiting bodies of fungi and a variety of species. 

Mushroom Hike 

Mushrooms

On the birding trail, we could hear a woodpecker but could never spot it. The trail ended at the overlook, but several of us walked a little further across a couple of creeks. It was a great day for hiking. 

We saw some blooming Indian Heliotrope, an annual hirsute plant that is a common weed in waste places and settled areas. Widely used in native medicines.

Indian Heliotrope

Once we got back to the boating dock area, everyone was dispersed. 

I walked down to the edge of the River at the docks, and that is where I saw a couple of gray herons, & a Muscovy duck.

Muscovy Duck