Scenic Sunday

Wilson Dam

Hanging around dams is fun. Whenever I'm blue or ornery or scattered or feeling lost - or want an adventure! - I'll drive to one and soak it all in. Normally, bird photos from these places are what you see on this blog but today I thought it would be fun to show you the dams themselves.

Wilson Dam is in Florence. Here, on a lucky day you might spy a bald eagle perching on snags high atop the surrounding cliffs just waiting and watching. I've never been that lucky. However, the sheer power of this place is truly awesome. Not to compare these smaller dams with others a gazillion times larger, but no matter the size dams are to be respected. Me? I would never get this close to a dam. See the fishermen? Year round you'll find fishermen in boats rushing up to the dam, cut power and throw in their lines. The swift current quickly shuttles them downstream, and they'll power up and go right back next to the dam. This happens all day long. The assumption can only be that they catch lots of fish, or perhaps they simply enjoy the ride. Or both.

Most certainly this works out for the birds as well. The usual suspects are gulls and cormorants and herons. The American white pelicans show up in the winter months as well to gorge themselves on the fat fish. I'm sure there are other varieties of birds but these are the ones normally seen.

Wheeler Dam

Wheeler Dam is a relatively short drive east. South on Highway 101 at Elgin will take you across the dam to the Alabama Birding Site on the other side. This dam is much closer to the Giraffe Head Tree and it is here that I do my usual pelican watching.

The gulls, cormorants and herons are here, too. As are the fishermen.


There is an island on the west side of Wheeler Dam within which roosts all manner of birds. The herons are circled (I've done this before here, I know), and you can see a few white pelicans on the point preening their feathers, or perhaps just chatting about the day's catches. Gulls dip and soar, plunging into the water for a meal. Cormorants zip by like F-22's, and perch all along the towers. A typical dam day.

For far more interesting views of our world please visit Scenic Sunday.
Have a wonderful day.

Debi

American White Pelicans

American White Pelicans on Elk River
(Far, far, far away from me)

The newspaper said in big letters "American White Pelicans sighted on Elk River!" So where does a birder go but to Elk River! Upon arriving I detect a problem - all the properties along this narrow band of river is private with No Trespassing signs clearly visible on docks and grasslands. Far in the distance, blinding white in the sunshine, are tiny white dots floating along the currents. The zoom lens proves them to be pelicans but there's no way to get closer. I drive along crookneck lanes, bobbing and weaving through potholes and tree limbs but there was no public access anywhere. The zoomed and cropped photo will have to suffice for today. Then, it snowed and I was house-bound for a bit. Me and the Yaris are not safe in snow - trust me.

After the roads were cleared up - a day or two - I went out to the dam on a whim. Surely, if they're on the Elk they'll be on Wilson Lake. Yes, yes, yes! Again, very far away but hope springs eternal. Patience may win the day. This site is part of the North Alabama Birding Trail. There is ample parking and public access and I am happy. So I go out and shoot some in the frigid wind chill but no pelican flies close for an hour or more. Again with the freezing fingers. Again with the tearing eyes and hair whipping about my face. Again with the herons and cormorants and gulls and coots.

Finally, a flock of seagulls (...that phrase takes me back) finds a school of bait fish and begin a feeding frenzy close to shore. A lone male American White Pelican spots the action and takes advantage. Finally. Finally.

He swoops and circles.

He banks and dances in the winds.

His wingspan is magnificent.

His calm demeanor shows he means business.

He turns for the landing.

His reflection is beautiful in these boiling waters beneath the dam.

Perfect landing.

Success, both him and me.

Ice Udders

Wilson Lake

WARNING: This post will make you feel cold. Brew some hot tea and wrap up good before reading. While visiting the lake during the frigid weather my mom and I made time for some road trips. The snowfall where we were was much lighter than the eastern portion of the state where Eve lives so we were able to get out for odd road trip. Our last road trip was to the dam in search of pelicans.


What we found was an alien land, it's edges dripping with ice formations. The chop and splash of Wilson lake had covered everything alongside the Tennessee River. Initial coatings from relentless waves eventually created udders of ice reaching downward toward the steel blue, roiling waters.


When I say "we" I mean me and my camera for mom was all too happy staying inside the car with the heater going. Which is exactly where she needed to be, having had some surgical procedures recently. The goal was to get her out of the house so she could see something besides 4 walls and a television set. Birding expeditions always rock, and the dam is normally the perfect spot. While there we met a gentleman about her age who had seen pelicans AND the recent Operation Migration stop and flyover of Whooping Cranes! Now THAT'S a GOAL for me!


But I digress. While I watched all manner of waterfowl circling and calling in the brisk breeze, diving down into the boiling water to catch dinner I walked closer to the edge and looked down at the shoreline. You are seeing what I saw, or a small portion of it anyway.

The wind chill was fierce and I didn't have gloves on but I stayed until my fingers turned blood red and painful. There was so much beauty in these formations. Nature is the premiere artist and forever optimist. We always hear "take lemons and make lemonade" and that saying applies here as well. Except it could be "take freezing temperatures, strong winds and icy waters and make ice sculptures!" Such beauty is just beyond the edge - we just have to look for it.

New Year's Day

Entrance to Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Visitor's Center

Decatur, Alabama

I've needed a road trip for quite some time. Alone, I can drive along any road I damn well please, listen to the music I want to hear, head down random roads and change my path at the sight of a beckoning sign. Road trips bring a certain freedom that cleanses and refreshes my soul and heart. After picking up my new Timberland's (Yay!) I want to see the Sandhill Cranes, but the Visitor Center is closed. It is, after all, New Year's Day.

Mallard Fox Creek Wildlife Management Area
Northwest Loop of the North Alabama Birding Trail

So I head toward Wheeler Dam in search of my beloved American White Pelicans. Hello? What's this? Traveling West on Alt. 72 I see a North Alabama Birding Trail sign and decide to take a quick detour, hoping the Yaris will be up to the task.

The first 1/2 mile wasn't too difficult. Passing fields of fescue and chopped down corn stalks the Yaris was humming happily, as was I.


First water sighting rewarded our efforts with a gazillion gulls of some variety. My bird identifying books are packed up so maybe someone can ID these guys? Obviously, they were in a complete feeding frenzy, devouring some poor hapless fishes.

Resurrection Fern

More gulls

Soaking up the beauty - a sycamore leaf.

After a half mile the road became way too potted and bumpy for my little iCar so I decided to turn back and go to my original destination - Wheeler Dam on the Tennessee River.

We were greeted by blinding cold winds blowing straight into my face off the chilly, turbulent waters created by the dam. Not one pelican in sight. Even Pelican Island was dark and silent in their absence. However, the Great Blue Herons were in abundance, even more so than usual.

Walking down a pathway, trees offering some shelter from the wind, I lean up against a tree and watch the gulls and herons, who outnumbered the cormorants for a change. This guy landed a short distance from me and caught a fish...just like that! What luck! The heron barely had a hold on one fin of this large, flapping fish. He held on for a bit but the fish got away.

As you can imagine, the heron was not happy and left shortly thereafter.

From my sheltered perch I snapped a few more shots before the freezing winds sent me dashing to the warm interior of my car. It was only later, after downloading and perusing my pics, that I noticed the sheer number of herons in this last shot. I counted 16 (and had to get really close to see some of them) including the obvious guy in the foreground.

Waters below the dam are swift and strong. I watched fishing boat after fishing boat speed up to the dam, cut off their motors to fish, only to be washed back into the river just as speedily as their motor took them to the dam. It's incredible. And to think these birds dive and fish in these roiling waters without so much as a life vest.

Home & Nature

American White Pelican (2008)

by moi

Returning from beautiful, snowy Indiana yesterday I immediately turned on my computer to see what went on in my absence. My Inbox was loaded down with all manner of newsy missives, but the most exciting one of all heralded the return of American White Pelicans to my beloved river. Apparently, there are hundreds on the Elk River, which means Pelican Island around Wheeler Dam on the Tennessee River should have No Vacancies. That's where you'll find me later this week. Today, unpack and do laundry. Later this week I'm going on an adventure.

I've been missing nature and my home. While this move has been necessary - I think - a huge chunk of my being has been placed on hold. Instead of nesting I'm perching, poised to fly at the slightest notice. My nesting materials are all neatly boxed up and put away. My soul craves a Home for my heart, surrounded by my rocks and feathers, flotsam and jetsam from travels, beloved books and treasures collected through the years. Comfort in the familiar, gardens to plant and enjoy, making memories for your children, enjoying grandchildren and listening to the stories your children tell, knowing they were happy in their Home. Home is everything, and nature is a huge part of my Home. My heart.

This holiday season has been blissfully quiet and reflective. We bought less, we ate less (well, sorta) and we stressed less. This is the way Christmas is meant to be, but there is still room for improvement. I hope each and every one of you have a wonderfully quiet and safe and Happy New Year.