05/20/2012 - ASRT Black Warrior Nature Paddle Event (Day 2 of 2)

Header image is a photo of the morning sun lighting up a fog fire on the surface of the Tombigbee River.

I camped out in a tent at Foscue Creek Park for the ASRT Black Warrior Nature Paddle event and the loud cacophony of the singing birds at first light served as an alarm clock. What a wonderful way to wake up. I was quickly off on a solo paddle to experience sunrise on the Tombigbee River as ASRT activities started later in the morning. There was a slight fog on the water surface.

Sunrise with the White Bluffs of Demopolis Alabama in the background - near the Riverside Cemetery.

A kayaker's view of the White Bluffs along the Tombigbee River.

The mayflies were out in mass again this morning, seen in this photo as light colored specks. Blackbirds like this one were devouring the tasty insects and feeding their young. Also seen eating mayflies along the bluffs were cardinals, mockingbirds, and blue jays. If you look closely, you can see a fishing line with a worm lure left dangling from the branches in this tree.

A grackle with a brilliantly deep bluish head was forging for mayflies.

The only bird that was not eating mayflies was this deep brownish-red necked Green Heron who was fishing along the bank.