Jan 28, Friday
Today, I am going on an adventure.
My adventure began at River Heritage Park, which overlooks Wilson Dam. The dam is usually flooded with birds, but not today.
I was not to be discouraged; I adventured across Wilson Dam to the overlook and Rockpile.
It was a bitterly cold day, with temperatures below freezing, and I could see literally thousands of pelicans, seagulls, and cormorants (also known as snake birds) sitting on the rocks below the dam.
A few challenged the north wind foraging for food, and a few white pelicans floated down the river.
Nothing keeps the pelicans from floating down the river, even the turbulent water at Wheeler Dam.
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| Buttercups |
Rogersville Park is usually flooded with birds today; I saw buttercups reaching up with closed eyes.
What adventure was waiting for me at Joe Wheeler Lodge? I am joining a group of fellow enthusiasts who share my love for photography and nature.
Tonight, there will be hors d'oeuvres of Cheese, crackers, and fruit as we mingle with others.
There will be a signup sheet for the activities on Saturday.
Alabama weather is so unpredictable this time of year. It ranges from 19 in the mornings to the 50s to 60s, sometimes 70s, during the day. I will wait until tomorrow to decide on my next adventure.
Jan 29, Saturday,
With a good night's sleep and a light breakfast, I was ready for the day.
We spent the morning listening to Rocky discuss the camera's various features and how to utilize them.
Many, like myself, were still confused about the camera. We love the auto modes.
Lunch consisted of a BLT with onion rings.
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| White Pelicans at Wheeler Dam |
& with making new friends.
At 1 P.M., everyone met upstairs to disperse into different groups.
One group was going to the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge in Decatur.
Another group was going to Wheeler & Wilson Dams and other nearby local sites.
The last group was going to watch a falconer release three Harris Hawks into the woods to hunt for food (small animals).
It was cold, but not bitterly cold like yesterday; we were bundled up.
The groups dispersed in different directions. Ours was inside the Joe Wheeler State Park.
Before the falconer released the Harris Hawks, he had anyone wearing fur or a colorful hat remove it. The birds may think they are small animals and attack, and they tend to avoid bright colors.
The birds were released for the hunt, and we followed them into the wooded area.
They didn't go too far into the woods, but stopped to watch or even pose for us.
The hawks treed a squirrel, but the squirrel outfoxed them. No catch today for the Hawks.
Our group walked down to the lake's edge near the cabins. We saw shells, fossils, wild mushrooms, and driftwood.
We saw Spoonbill Ducks swimming in a nearby sewage area; they love the minnows that grow there.
There was a Bald Eagle in the Day Use, and that was our next stop.
With the camera in hand, we slowly descended the hill, stopping for that next great shot.
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| Bald Eagle with his eyes on us. |
The eagle got wind of us and flew away.
We saw a kingfisher, Canadian Geese, and a gray heron at the lake.
We sat down at the edge of the lake and watched the sunset.
What a way to end our hike.
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| Lake Wheeler, as the sun goes down the ripples and different colors upon the lake. |
We enjoyed a seafood buffet while sitting around and socializing.
The falconer returned with one of his Harris Hawks with Q & A time.
Rocky finished the day with a slide show and several stories.
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| Harris Hawks |
What an excellent way to make new friends who share a keen interest in photography and nature.
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| A shadow of friends |
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