Acadian Flycatcher | Empidonax virescent |
American Crow | Corvus brachyrhynchos |
American Flycatch | Tyrannus savana |
American Gold Finch | Spinus tristis |
American Robin | Turdus migatorius |
Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica- |
Belted Kingfisher | Megaceryle alcyon- |
Black Kite | Milvus migraines |
Black-White Warbler | Mniotilta varia |
Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher | Polioptila cerulea |
Blue Grosbeak | Passerine caeulea |
Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristate |
Brown-Headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater- |
Brown Thrasher | Toxostoma rufum |
Carolina Chickadee | Poecile carolinensis |
Caroline Wren | Thryothorus ludovicianus |
Chimney Swift | Chaetura pelagica |
Chipping Sparrow | spizella passerina |
Common Crackle | Quiscaus quiscula |
Common Nighthawk | Chordeiles minor |
Common Yellow Throat | Geothlypis trichas |
Downy Woodpecker | Dryobates pubescens |
Eastern Blue Bird | Sialia sails |
Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe |
Eastern Towhee | Pupil erythrophthalmus |
Eastern Wood-Pewee | Scalia sialis- |
Eurasian Penduline-Tit | Remix pendulinus- |
Field Sparrow | Spizella puslla |
Grasshopper Sparrow | Ammodramus savannarum- |
Great Crested Flycatcher | Myiarchus crintius- |
Hairy Woodpecker | |
House Sparrow | Passer domesticus |
House Finch | Haemorhous Mexicans |
House Wren | Troglodytes aedon |
Indigo Bunting | Passerine cyenea |
Killdeer | Charadrius Vociferus- |
Least Sandpipper | Calidris Minutilla- |
Mouring Dove | Zenaida macroua- |
Northern Bobwhite | |
Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinals |
Northern Flicker | Colaptes auratus |
Northern Mocking Bird | Minus polyglottos |
Northern Rough-Winged Swallow | Steigidopteryx Serripennis- |
Pileated Woodpecker | Dryocopus pileatus |
Northern Parula | Setophaga Americana |
Purple Finch | Haemmorhous purpureus |
Purple Martin | Proven subis |
Red-bellied Woodpecker | Melanerpes carolinus |
Red-Eyed Vireoo | Vireo olivaceous |
Red Shoulder Hawk | Buteo lineatus |
Red Tail Hawk | Buteo Jamaicensis - |
Red-winged Backbird | Agelaius phoeniceus |
Song Sparrow | Melospiza Melodia |
Scarlet Tanager | Pirange Olivace- |
Summer Tanager | Pirange rubra |
Tufted Titmouse | Baeolophus bicolor |
Western Wood-Pewee | Contopus Sordidulus- |
White-Eyed Vireo | Vireo griseus |
Yellow-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus americanus |
Yellow-Breasted Chat | Icteria Virens |
White-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta carolinensis- |
Monday, July 25, 2022
Bird Sounds (Alabama) using Cornell Merlin App Backyard Song Birds
I grew up on a little creek in Alabama
I grew up on a little creek in Alabama.
Way out in the country, far from the town
Nothing but family & farmland around
Crickets & mourning doves make their sound
The best people I knew were called Maw & Paw
They owned this land & farmed it all
Paw had a pet goose & rooster named Clyde
Maw taught me not to cuss or ever tell a lie
When I think back, only happiness inside
We called them Maw and Paw.
Come inside and sit a spell y’all
Make yourself a plate & some sweet iced tea
Turnip greens, pinto beans, Maw smiles at me
If I could go back there just one last time
I would eat from paws Muscadine vine
Paw was a veteran who served in World War II
He was by far the smartest man I ever knew
Now, Maw loved to needle crochet & sew
I believe she could do it with her eyes closed
A horse named Cricket and a catfish pond
Apple trees, watermelons, and far beyond
How they did it all, I will never comprehend
They fed family, animals, and friends
We called them Maw and Paw
The best people I ever knew
Cold Banana banana pudding & warm chicken stew
If I could go back there just one last time
I would eat from paws red grapevine
Blueberries, strawberries, beans & potatoes
Cherry trees, peach trees, plums & tomatoes
Oh, if I could go back there just one more time
Written by my daughter about her grandparents
Saturday, April 9, 2022
2022 April 9, Walking Tour Moulton, AL
Today, I rode to Moulton, Alabama, to join a group of people where we enjoyed several different people talking about sites in Moulton.
Our First Stop was the Moulton Negro High School, also called Moulton Rosenwald School.
We listened to a woman speak about the school that once was a Negro High School but now is an elementary and junior high for remote learning.
Next, we rode down the street to the Byler Road Church of Christ AME, where we listened to another woman talk about the history of the church.
We then rode to the Freeman Tabernacle Church on Byler Road, where we listened to another woman talk about that church and its history.
In 2019, the Freeman Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church celebrated its 150th Anniversary.
Isaac Owens donated the land for the church, and for a short time, the Baptists and Methodists worshiped together.
Reverend Freeman was the minister of the church for over 35 years.
Freeman Tabernacle church celebrated its 150 years of service in 2019.
We stopped at the Old Moulton Cemetery and listened to several different women talk about important people buried in the cemetery. They were in period dresses.
Alicia Carpenter played the character of Miss Lucy Downing, the daughter of James and Mary Downing.
Her father died when she was about four years old, and her mother went to work for the Post Office. She was appointed postmistress of Moulton and served for 17 years.
Mother Mollie Downing 1955-1933 wife of James Downing "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou" |
Lucy Downing, daughter of James & Mollie Downing 1886-1968
Lucy never married, and she followed in her mother's footsteps as postmistress of Moulton.
We stopped in front of the Smith Chapel CME Church and listened to a woman talk about the history of the church there.
Mural of Moulton |
Stopped to take a picture of the mural, not quite finished, about the history of Moulton.
My last stop was at The Hot Spot, where we listened to the history of the Hot Spot and the history of Byer Road.
Byler Road
Pioneer Alabama's settled path to new lands, agriculture, transport, and commerce began in Northwest Alabama. The 140-mile corridor was designed on Dec 19, 1819, by the state legislators. This was Alabama's first state legislative action. It started at the junction of Shoals Creek and Jackson Military Road, 10 miles northeast of Florence, AL. It ended at Warrior River Falls at the state capital crossing in Tuscaloosa, Al.
Saturday, February 5, 2022
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 along Lake Guntersville Park on Sunset Drive.
We stopped at McDonald's along the way for a couple of apple pies and Diet Coke.
We saw several people at the park with their cameras with large lenses sitting on tripods, watching and waiting for the eagle to leave the nest.
I had to use the restroom and went in search of one, but I did not find one, so we left.
We rode further down into the park, and there we found restrooms. Along the way, I spotted several ducks, geese, and seagulls along 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 hard to get a good picture because he was in the shade most of the time, but I did get a couple of good pictures when he stopped pecking right before he flew away.
Hubby spotted a red-headed woodpecker. I was super excited to see a Redheaded Woodpecker, 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 I 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 Krogers, where we purchased a few groceries, a bouquet of flowers, and a potting plant.
The flowers that we bought at Krogers |
We looked for hawks and bald eagles along the powerline near the old Papermill. We spotted a couple of red-tailed hawks. 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 |
Sunday, January 30, 2022
2022 Jan 28-30, Focus on Nature Photo Weekend JWSP (3 days)
Jan 28, Friday
Today, I am going on an adventure.
My adventure began at River Heritage Park, a park that overlooks Wilson Dam, which 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 below freezing, and I could see literally 1,000s of pelicans, seagulls, and cormorants (snake birds) sitting on the rocks below the dam.
There were a few that challenged the north wind foraging for food and a few white pelicans floating down the river.
Nothing keeps the pelicans from floating down the river, even the turbulent water at Wheeler Dam.
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 lovers of photography and nature.
Tonight, there will be a Horsd’oeuvers of Cheese, crackers, and fruit as we mingle with others.
There will be a signup sheet for the activities on Saturday.
Alabama weather this time of year is so unpredictable, from 19 in the mornings and 50s to 60s, sometimes 70s during the day. I am going to wait until tomorrow to decide what my next adventure will be.
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 talk about the many facets of the camera and how to use them.
Many, like myself, were still in a maze of confusion about the camera. We love the auto modes.
Lunch consisted of a BLT with onion rings.
White Pelicans at Wheeler Dam |
& with making new friends.
At 1pm, 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 local sites nearby.
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 bitter cold like yesterday, but 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 them. The birds may think they are small animals and attack, nor do they like bright colors.
The birds were released for the hunt, and away we went, following them into the wooded area.
They didn’t go too far into the woods, but they did stop 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 edge of the Lake 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 advanced up the hill, stopping for that next great shot.
Bald Eagle with his eyes on us. |
The eagle got wind of us and flew away.
At the lake, we saw a kingfisher, Canadian Geese, and a gray heron.
We sat down at the edge of the lake and watched the sunset.
What a way to end our hike.
Lake Wheeler, as the sun goes down the ripples and different colors upon the lake. |
We enjoyed a seafood buffet as we sat around 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.
Harris Hawks |
What a wonderful way to make new friends with a keen interest in photos and nature.
A shadow of friends |
Friday, January 21, 2022
2021 Sep 4, National Wildlife Hike at Joe Wheeler 10-11:30
2021 Sep 4, National Wildlife Hike at Joe Wheeler 10-11:30
There were only three of us on the hike, including park ranger Sam Woodroof.
This was my first time hiking the Champion Trail.
Wheeler Lake |
We took the Champion trail, which begins at the West end of the Lodge parking lot. (1 mile; Elevation: 566.76 ft./628.17 ft.) We talked about vegetation, trees, & park reconstruction.
Purple Wildflowers |
Purple berries |
2021 Nov 14-20, Carnival VALOR 5 Day Caribbean Cruise to Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico
Leaving New Orleans on Carnival Valor |
Sunset leaving New Orleans on the Mighty Mississippi River |
Sunset Gulf of Mexico (Sea Day) |
Day trip to Cozumel |
Our waiter, Aldo, at Mr. Sancho's Beach |
Island of Progreso |
Some of the birds that we saw at Progreso |
Friday's Sunrise |
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