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. 

2016 July 9, Saturday, Taking pictures around the Shoals Area

Today, I went to Chick-fil-a for a bagel with egg, cheese, and chicken. I also ordered 3 chicken Minnie with a large tea. I ate the three chicken Minnie without the bread. 

Then I rode to UNA to see the lions but they were not out I could hear them roaring. I did see several squirrels scurrying around the campus. They were looking for food and playing.  Crape Myrtles were in full bloom. It was fairly quiet, except for an occasional roar of the lions and the pitter-patter of squirrels, as I walked through the campus taking pictures

squirrels scurrying around the campus

squirrels scurrying around the campus

Top of the fountain 

Crape Myrtles

I  rode to W.C. Handy Home and Museum to take a few pictures outside. Outside the tin, men were playing their musical instruments, and the museum door patiently waiting to be unlocked at 10AM.

Tin men playing music 

WC Handy Museum Opens at 10AM

I next rode to McFarland where I discovered a Gaggle of Geese gathered on the sandy beach and I saw two men sitting quietly in their boat fishing. I could hear in the distance the construction on the O'Neal bridge, and I watched a couple of geese come in for a landing on the Tennessee River. 

Two Men Fishing

A gaggle of geese enjoying the sandy beach of McFarland 

I  stopped at Kangaroo in Sheffield to fill up with gas. 
Then onto the railroad bridge where I took pictures while I walked to the end of the bridge and back. 
My next stop was Rock Pile Park where I saw another Gaggle of Geese, a  lot more geese than at McFarland Park. They began waddling towards me so I went back to the van for the bread left over from my chicken Minnie.

A gaggle of geese at the Rock Pile 

I waited until I was almost at the river before I gave the gaggle of geese the bread.
I then rode down to the Children's Playground area at the Rock Pile. There was a family of three there at the park, and the little girl was having fun playing. She came up to me and said hi, and she also told me by when I left. 

The playground area at the Rock Pile 

The playground area at the Rock Pile & the little girl who was having fun 

I stopped at Visitors Over Look at TVA Dam where I could see the TVA Wilson Dam, the Tennessee River, the Marriott hotel, and the tower.

Tennessee River, Wilson Dam, Tower, and Marriott view from Visitors' Overlook 

I rode across the Wilson Dam Bridge to River Heritage Park where I took a few pictures of Crape Myrtles that were in full bloom. 

Crape Myrtles.

Crape Myrtles.

Crape Myrtles.

My last stop was Aldies to buy a few groceries. They had eggs for $.49 a dozen so I bought four dozen. I came home unloaded the groceries and took a nap