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 a couple of apple pies and drinks before heading to Guntersville. 

We sat down 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 hard getting a picture because the downy was in a shadowed area. I did get a couple of good pictures.

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 Parrots guns on the hill and shelled Guntersville from 7 a.mm 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, and they can still be seen on top of the hill.
Most of the shelling concentrated on cotton warehouses and boat construction facilities south of Henry Island, 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 Krogers Grocery for some 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 diet coke.

We came home by way of the old paper mill road, where we saw a red-tail hawk.

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

American White Pelicans 

It was a great day for birding. 

2022 Nov 13, Clydesdae's Parade in Cullman's Wearhouse District Cullman, AL

It was a bitterly cold morning as we rode to the Warehouse District in Cullman to see the Clydesdale Nov 13, 2022

Budweiser Advertisment 

Budweiser Clydesdales  coming to Alabama Nov 10-13, 2022 

Jingle & Mingle Birmingham Nov 10 

75th Annual Nationa Veterans Day Parade Birmingham Nov 11

Lakeview District Trot Parade Birmingham Nov 12 

Christmas Market Open House Cullman Nov 13. 

since Adams 1937 

We arrived at about 1PM and got in line for the parade, where we could watch the horses being unloaded. 

Each of the eight Clydesdale was taken out of the trailer one at a time, then harnessed with solid brass, patent leather, and stitched with pure linen thread harness, which weighed over 130 pounds. 

One of the Clydesdale being hitched up with its harness 

The Red, White, and Gold beer Wagon also has to be taken out of the 50-foot tractor-trailer, and the Clydesdale hitched up one at a time. 

Once the horses were hitched to the Wagon, the drivers, riders, and Dalmatian dog climbed aboard the wagon, and the parade began.

The parade was scheduled to begin at 1PM, but it did not start until 2:20 PM.

The Budweiser wagon, 8 Clydesdale, two drivers,  Dalmatian, and three passengers rode around the Warehouse District 3 times, stopping once for pictures before heading back to the tractor trailers to be loaded up.

8 Clydesdale drivers, riders, and Dalmatians starting the parade 

Close-up of drivers and Dalmatian 

Several children were standing next to me. A family with three redheaded children. One of the little boys was very impressed with my camera and wanted me to take his picture, which I did. 

The little boy who wanted me to take his picture.

There were thousands of people waiting to see the horses. We watched the Clydesdale go around a couple of times. 

After Clydesdale's first trip around the district, many people left. At about the same time, we heard the train's whistle blow and a very long train crossed the tracks, so these people had to wait for the tracks to be clear to cross. 

We were going to leave after the first round, but since we were going to have to wait on the train, we decided to go back and watch the Clydesdale one more time. I am glad we did because I got a better video of them coming around the corner and getting my picture made near the wagon. 

After the parade, we headed home, stopping at Cracker Barrel in Athens for supper. Hubby ordered a big breakfast, and I ordered pinto beans, fried apples with cornbread, chow chow, and onion.  

We stopped at Murphy's Walmart to fill up with Gas. It was dark by the time we arrived home. 

It was a cold day, but at least the sun was shining. I think it got up to 41.

2022 Nov 7, Early Morning Adventures

Early this morning, it was cold, wet and foggy. We rode to Jack for breakfast, where I ordered a single biscuit and gravy. Hubby ordered the big breakfast of eggs, sausage, hash rounds, biscuits, and gravy. As we rode home, we saw the sun trying to peak out. 

Sunrise 

 Later that morning, we rode to town and stopped at Hobby Lobby (lots of people looking for holiday decorations), Dollar Tree, and Ollie’s then to get our B12 shots. 

We rode to Muscle Shoals, stopped, and ate lunch at the new Highway 55 Restaurant. I ordered a hamburger with the fixings, onion rings, and unsweetened iced tea. I ate about half of my hamburger but all of my onion rings. Hubby also ordered a Mushroom hamburger and onion rings. He ate all his hamburger but not all his onion rings, so we had enough for another meal. 

 Bought gas at Murphy's and stopped at Foodland in Muscle Shoals for crab legs(they were on sale for $15.99 a pound.  Since we were on 6th Street, we headed to Leighton Pond on Fennel Road to see & listen to birds. 

Leighton Pond on Fennell Road 

All we saw was mud and a few fish flopping. Believe it or not, fish were swimming in the pond. If it gets any lower, there will not be any water for the fish to swim in. 

Hubby turned on the GPS System to take us to a different route home. On our way, we saw a small cemetery, the sign said Shaw Cemetery, just off 6th Street. Several of my relatives are buried in this cemetery. I did not take any pictures there. Next, we turned onto Shaw Road, and I said to hubby I wonder who the cemetery and road are named for and that is when we saw a historic marker.

The Shaw Home Colbert County

The Shaw Home Colbert Baldy Shaw purchased this property from the state of Alabama in 1830. In 1844, he constructed this home. Over the years, various property owners made changes and additions to the Shaw Home and its outbuildings. The canning building is directly north of the home and allows for the canning of garden-raised food without affecting the temperature of the main house. Evidence of Fennell Road is directly behind the canning building on the north boundary line of the home. During the Civil War, Fennell Road provided constant access to and from the many skirmishes between the Northern and Southern armies. The Battle of Town Creek was one of those skirmishes. The Shaw Home is currently a working farm with 2 wells and 9 farm buildings and is an existing example of the tranquility of life in the south. The home also serves as a reminder of the past sadness of the Civil War, fought between brothers, families, and states.

 Listed in the Alabama Register of Landmarks & Heritage Marker erected in 2013 by Drs. Gerald, and Patricia Miller Murray. 

Bales of Cotton wrapped in pink 

 We also saw hundreds of rolled cotton bales and fields still waiting to be harvested. We road to the Wheeler Dam but had to take a detour for the bridge was out on Highway 101. 

At Wheeler Dam, we saw a few cormorants diving for fish, herons flying overhead, and terns sitting on light poles as we crossed the dam. As we were leaving the dam, I heard several bird sounds. We rode to the park across the highway, where I walked around but did not hear any birds. 

Joe Wheeler State Park on the Lawrence County side is covered in colorful fallen leaves. 

We came back across the highway and road to the overlook at the dam, and that is where I heard a lot of Common Grackles and European Starlings. We rode up to Joe Wheeler State Park-Alabama near the entrance and stopped to listen to bird sounds. 

A couple of Muscovy ducks swimming in Wheeler Lake looking for fish

I walked down to the edge of the water, and that is where I saw several ducks on the other side of the almost dried-up lake. There were a couple of ducks swimming nearby, and I saw a Gray heron in the distance. I heard several red-bellied woodpeckers, hairy woodpeckers, American robins, Field sparrow song sparrows, a couple of Muscovy ducks, mallards, and lots of Kildeer. 

Three females standing near Joe Wheeler Lodge 

 We rode to the lodge, stopping near the wooded area, hoping to hear several birds, but we heard none. Then, as we started to leave, we saw a deer. I started taking pictures of it, and then I saw two more. I got out of the car and took several pictures. They were not frightened at all, even posed for me. The day started off damp and gloomy, but the sun came out for a while. It clouded back up but never rained. We did not plan the day's adventures but just let the day unfold. What fun we had!