Fall-Winter 2010
Please Note: In an attempt to avoid the worst of the heat, the August 14th and 28th field trips will start before 8:00 AM.
August 14th
Dauphin Island: Pelican Peninsula and Shell Mound Park
Meet at 6:45 AM at the Public Beach Parking area we will spend about an hour birding on the peninsula, stop for a refreshment at the Bakery (or wherever attendees want to go) and then meet again at the Shell Mound Park to look for CERULEAN WARBLER and other early fall migrants. If members have the energy we can carpool to the West End for shorebirds. We should finish up around 11 AM. Please bring water for our walk on the beach and bug repellent for the Shell Mounds.
August 28th
Blakeley Island Mud Lakes and Battleship Park: Causeway birding and shorebirds
Meet at 7 AM at the Alabama Game and Fish Commission Office Parking lot adjacent to the Five Rivers facility. You must have filled out your annual hold harmless form in order to get on the State Dock’s property. Please visit: http://www.aosbirds.org/BlakeleyPermits.php for the form and instructions. No one will be allowed to attend the field trip who has not filled out and submitted their hold harmless form. Please bring bug repellent and carry water on this trip. There are no facilities at the Mud Lakes. We can go out to brunch at Spot of Tea or lunch at Ed’s Seafood Shed, depending on the time, after the field trip.
October 2nd
Fort Morgan: Fall Migrants and Western Vagrants
Meet at 8 AM at the Fort’s stable grounds near the entrance. Birders are asked to pay the $5 entrance fee to the park. Birders coming from Mobile can meet at 6:50 AM at the D'Olive Bay Overlook behind the Shell Station on Hwy 98 in Daphne and carpool from there. Please bring bug repellant. We will picnic on the grounds of the fort after the field trip.
October 8-10th
Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) Meeting/Dauphin Island
Check your Fall AOS newsletter for more information.
October 14–17th
Alabama Coastal Bird Festival
Check out http://www.alabamacoastalbirdfest.com/ for information on trips and speakers.
Contact Roger Clay (251-626-5474) for volunteer opportunities.
November 4-6th
Jennings, LA: The second annual "Yellow Rails and Rice Festival".
As the name suggests, Yellow Rails are the target species at the Yellow Rails and Rice Festival. This festival provides an excellent opportunity to see this elusive species during rice harvest, maybe even from the cab of a rice harvester! We will leave Mobile at 3:00 PM on Friday, November 5th for Saturday’s program. Park your cars at 6024 Cooper Dr. and we will car pool to Louisiana from there. You will have to make your own accommodation and festival reservations. The Hampton Inn & Suites in Jennings offers special rates to festival attendees (1-337-824-2699).
November 20th
Baldwin County Birding: Magnolia Springs Landfill and Fairhope Falls subdivision
Meet at 8:00 AM at the Magnolia Springs Landfill parking lot. This site has been the premier gull viewing area in south Alabama. From there we will visit the so far undeveloped Fairhope Falls subdivision, just west of Silver Hill on the south side of Hwy 104. This area was excellent for sparrows last year has several ponds where waterfowl can be seen and a trail through a wooded area. Birders coming from Mobile can meet at 7:10 AM at the D'Olive Bay Overlook behind the Shell Station on Hwy 98 in Daphne and carpool from there.
December 14-Jan 5
National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Counts.
There are many opportunities to participate in Audubon’s CBCs in Alabama, neighboring states and out of the area. Keep an eye on the Alabama Ornithological Society’s Christmas Bird Count web page and the ALbirds listserv for more information about this important and fun birding event.
For directions to locations or if you have any questions, call Chazz Hesselein at (251) 666-3118. Field trips may be canceled due to adverse weather or other reasons, so be sure to call Chazz if in doubt.
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