FIELD TRIPS

FRIDAY, January 26, 2023

Birding on your own if you arrive early. See https://alabamabirdingtrails.com.

1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Wilson Lake Boat Trip – Our Keynote Speaker and gull expert Amar Ayyash will boat to the dam to teach gull identification. (Requires advance signup and extra payment, $60 per person. Contact Damien Simbeck for details. tnbarredowl@aol.com). If there is sufficient interest a second trip can be arranged for Sunday afternoon. This trip is weather dependent especially with respect to fog.

SATURDAY, January 27, 2023
7:00 a.m.  Field Trips – Meet in the Lodge Lobby

1. Tennessee River Birding. The trip will bird the Tennessee River and environs from Wheeler Dam to The Sinks. Our Keynote Speaker and gull expert Amar Ayyash will follow up on his gull workshop with in-the-field ID techniques and advice at the dams and other gull spots. This will be a most-of-the-day outing, and we’ll have a picnic lunch in the field where convenient. The route is basically a loop. Bring your own lunch, but we will make a stop at Subway in Florence for a bathroom stop and for those who prefer to buy something for lunch. Numerous Alabama rarities including loons and grebes, have been seen over the years in the areas we’ll bird.
2. Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge to Waterloo

Drive to Key Cave Creek NWR (stopping for any rarities seen between the Lodge and Key Cave) for birding this grassland area. Bobolinks, Dickcissels and Grasshopper Sparrows are usual here as well as harriers and other raptors. The outing continues along the Tennessee River to Waterloo, looking for ducks, grebes and other waterfowl. The Waterloo area has had numerous Bald and Golden Eagle sightings.

SUNDAY, January 28, 2023

7:30 a.m. Field Trip

Around the State Park/Wheeler Dam
Trip Leader: TBD

12:00 p.m. Compilation

Where:  Lodge – Cypress Room