There are thousands of boat ramps and river accesses along the Tennessee River in Alabama. We were poking around the little town of Decatur, Alabama, when we found an entire parking lot next to the water. In a steady drizzle of rain, we saw lots of birds, including Common Loons and Pied Billed Grebes.
As we drove to the Swan Creek Wildlife Management Area, the rain became steadier. There was a honeypot of bird activity on Sandy Road nearby. Hundreds of American Robins were buzzing in and out of a thicket of privet. There were sparrows nibbling on berries just off the surface of the swamp. High in the trees we spotted several Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum). It was later decided that this was our "Bird of the Day".
The Cedar Waxwing is about 6 inches long. Male and female waxwings look similar, with very little physical difference between the sexes, which makes them monomorphic. The oldest living Cedar Waxwing observed by scientists in the wild was eight years two months old. Cedar Waxwings are sociable, seen in flocks year round where they can find good sources of berries.
At a coffee shop we found internet access and hot beverages. It started raining harder. There we decided to head east toward the town of Scottsboro. This would be the furtherest east we would travel on this vacation. We will spend the next week slowly making our way back to Memphis.
On our way to dinner at a nice seafood restaurant in the woods, our front tires got stuck in the mud. It was pouring rain. Seven cars stopped. People wanted to help. Each time we thanked them, telling them that we had called a tow truck. The tow truck was on the way but had not reached us yet, when four husky guys jumped out of a pick-up truck, in the pouring rain, and picked up the front of our car, liberating us from the mud. I offered to pay them for what they had done. They wished me a Merry Christmas and refused to let me pay. Our dinner was great too.
Robert and Berry
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