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| With its thickly forested uplands, bottomland hardwoods, and extensive farmlands, the Tennessee River Valley is the primary natural feature that enhances the occurrence of birds in the Shoals area. Eastern Colbert County sites of interest include: Leighton and Vicinity: Some 31 species of shorebirds and 27 species of waterfowl have been recorded using the swamps, ponds and farmlands of the area as migration stops or wintering grounds. Old First Quarters: This site is located on the Tennessee Valley Authority Muscle Shoals Reservation public use area. Forests, fields and brushy areas make this a good area for a variety of birds, particularly in summer and during spring and fall migrations. Swainson’s Warbler has recently nested along the main walking trail. Wilson Dam: The area below the dam (the “Rockpile”) offers a vantage point for observing a variety of gulls in winter and swallows and a Great Blue Heron rookery in summer. Bald Eagles are occasionally found here in winter. Western Colbert County offers some of the most exciting bird watching opportunities in the area. Bottomland and upland hardwoods, pine forests, and Bear Creek Embayment of Pickwick Reservoir are the natural attractors. The Riverton Rose Trail (Colbert County Road 1) between Margerum and Riverton offers three sites of interest: Colbert County Rose Trail Park: A good variety of migrating songbirds can sometimes occur here, and Red-headed Woodpeckers may be common in winter. Riverton: Bald Eagles may be observed here each winter along with Common Loons, grebes, and diving ducks. Colbert Ferry Park: Located on the Natchez Trace Parkway at the Tennessee River bridge, this park offers a chance to see Bald Eagles and diving ducks on the river, and Wilson’s Snipe on the mudflat of Colbert Creek. Hummingbirds may be discovered in August and September at a beaver swamp along the entrance road. Lauderdale County sites of interest include: Waterloo and Vicinity: The Tennessee River and Second Creek Embayment near the small town of Waterloo host the area’s largest concentration of wintering Bald Eagles and the area’s only known eagle nest. Rock Spring Nature Trail: Located 1.5 miles north of the Tennessee River bridge on the Natchez Trace Parkway, this short trail traverses a wooded area where Acadian Flycatchers, Louisiana Waterthrushes, Summer Tanagers, and other Neotropical migrants occur in summer. Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge: This 1,000-acre refuge, located four miles west of Florence, is best known for its warm season native grasslands that support good numbers of nesting Grasshopper Sparrows and Dickcissels, with Northern Harriers and Short-eared Owls occurring in winter. |
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