Bird Sounds (Alabama) using Cornell Merlin App Backyard Song Birds

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-

This are bird sounds that I have heard and recorded on my Iphone.

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 of the 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 of the 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

2022 April 9, Walking Tour Moulton, AL

 Today, I rode to Moulton, Alabama, to join a group of people. We enjoyed hearing several people talk about sites in Moulton. 

Our First Stop was the Moulton Negro High School, also known as the Moulton Rosenwald School. 

Moulton Negro High School, also called Moulton Rosenwald School. 

Near this site in the 1920s, a school was constructed with funds and labor from the African-American community, as well as funds from the Public and the Rosenwald Foundation. In the 1950s, new buildings replaced wooden structures. Most of the block laying, plastering, and mortar mixing was done by African American volunteers. Much of the funding came from faculty, students, and their families. The school closed in 1970 due to desegregation. The school exemplified the educational pride of the African-American community. School Principals were Mrs. Maggie Truss, Mrs. Addie Irwin, Ms. Pearl F. Crenshaw, Mr. A.G. Petty, Mrs. Hazel A. Shelley, Mr. Samuel A. Shelley, Ms. Ora Smith, Mr. Noble Jones, Mr. James Poe, and Mr. C.C. Chunn.

We listened to a woman speak about the school that was once a Negro High School, but is now an elementary and junior high school 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 church's history. 

We then rode to the Freeman Tabernacle Church on Byler Road, where another woman talked 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. 

The Freeman Tabernacle Church celebrated its 150th Anniversary of service in 2019. 

We stopped at the Old Moulton Cemetery and watched as several women discussed the notable individuals buried there. They were in period dresses.  

Alicia Carpenter played the character of Miss Lucy Downing, the daughter of James and Mary Downing. 

When she was about four years old, her father died, 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 followed in her mother's footsteps, becoming the postmistress of Moulton. 

We stopped in front of the Smith Chapel CME Church and listened to a woman talk about the church's history. 

Smith Chapel C.M.E. Church 

On this site, in 1871, former slaves constructed one of the first churches and schools for African Americans in Moulton. The Colored Methodist purchased most of the materials used for the building. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Nabors Owen gave land for the Colored Baptist and Colored Methodist Church and School in Moulton. The congregations worshipped together until 1874. The course is named in honor of Rev. Andrew Smith, a former pastor

Mural of Moulton 

I stopped to take a picture of the mural about the history of Moulton, which was not quite finished. 

My last stop was at The Hot Spot, where we listened to the history of the Hot Spot and 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 by the state legislators on December 19, 1819. 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, and ended at Warrior River Falls at the state capital crossing in Tuscaloosa, AL.

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 

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, 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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

Harris Hawks 

What an excellent way to make new friends who share a keen interest in photography and nature.  

A shadow of friends 

2021 Sep 4, National Wildlife Hike at Joe Wheeler 10-11:30

 2021 Sep 4, National Wildlife Hike at Joe Wheeler 10-11:30

Only three of us were 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, and park reconstruction.

Purple Wildflowers

Purple berries