Bankhead National Forest (BNF) in northwestern Alabama is 180,000 acres of mesic hardwood, mixed pine-hardwood, shortleaf pine, oak-hickory, hemlock-white pine and mountain longleaf pine forest, with many limestone bluffs, swift flowing streams and waterfalls; the 26,000-acre Sipsey Wilderness is also found here. Migration birding this time of year is usually quite productive in BNF and we’ve had some great trips there the past few years. We’ll meet at Site 14 of the North Alabama Birding Trail (Central Firetower). From Huntsville,…

NABS has actually led a few trips to the Guntersville area during spring and fall migration, but it’s been a long time and we are overdue for an outing there. We’ll visit several places we’ve birded before, including the south side of Guntersville Dam, the Guntersville City waterfront and Guntersville State Park. We should see a wide variety of warblers and other migrants, as well as red-headed woodpeckers at the dam, eagles and ospreys over the river, etc. Time permitting,…

We will explore the Leighton area and Town Creek, targeting shorebird migrants, whose movement through our area should be strong at this time of year. Our success will depend largely on water levels and weather. We’ll meet at the Ingalls Boat Harbor Pavilion in Decatur. From the direction of Huntsville, cross the river bridge and take the first right onto Alt 72/20 (Wilson St.). Go about a mile and turn right on Neher St., follow to pavilion parking lot. –…