NABS Trip to Wheeler NWR – Beaverdam Peninsula, Limestone Bay, White Springs Dike

Our second trip to the White Springs Dike area should be productive. Waterfowl variety and numbers will likely be impressive and most or all winter-resident songbird species will be around. We’ll head first to the goose tower observation platform, then bird nearby Beaverdam Peninsula, which is excellent for waterfowl, raptors, cranes, some open-country songbirds (pipits, horned larks, possibly longspurs), etc. Then we’ll head to Limestone Bay and White Springs Dike along our regular route, where we’ll be behind locked gates for 2-3 hours. We should encounter lots more waterfowl here, e.g., Canada, White-Fronted, Snow, perhaps Ross’ and Cackling Goose, a variety of dabbler and diving ducks, White Pelican, etc. There should be plenty of songbirds and raptors along the way too; Bald Eagles have been regularly sighted in this area the past several years. We should be done by lunch; Apple Lane Farms, anyone? Take the Mooresville exit off I-565, go south on Mooresville Road and meet at the parking area near where it intersects with old Highway 20 (34.627442 -86.880186). – Ken Ward, Leader (256-679-8332; kenphin1990@gmail.com)