Bankhead National Forest (May 10-12, 2013)

Had a very enjoyable weekend in Bankhead National Forest. This beautiful forest is sometimes referred to as the "land of a thousand waterfalls", and it was easy to see why. Even a short walk down one of the  trails will lead you to one of the many streams falling down the rock faces. We were there primarily in search of herps (reptiles/amphibians), but it was a bit on the cool side so the snakes weren't moving much but we managed to find a few, along with our target species, the green salamander! These pretty little gems live in the cracks and crevices of the many rocky outcrops.The birding was exceptional with highlights including black-throated green warblers, Kentuky warbler, scarlet tanager, orchard orioles, wood thrush and many more. We saw a total of 61 species (full list below). The forest is well-known for its breeding cerulean warblers, but we didn't hear or see any this trip. Guess that means we will have to go back again! If you live in the area or want to plan a trip, I highly recommend a visit to this forest. For more information, click here.

Herps:
 Green Salamander
Slimy Salamander

Northern Cricket Frog
Spring Peeper
Bullfrog
Green/Bronze Frog
Cope's Gray Treefrog
Green Treefrog
Fowler's Toad

Plain-Bellied Watersnake
Northern Watersnake
Eastern Garter Snake
Ringneck Snake
Black Racer
Cottonmouth
Copperhead
Timber Rattlesnake (Dead on Road - DOR)
Eastern Hognose (DOR)
Corn Snake (DOR)

Green Anole
Broadhead Skink
Ground Skink

Eastern Box Turtle
Yellow-Bellied Slider
Spiny Softshell

Species Count: 25


Birds:
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Kingbird
American Robin
Chipping Sparrow
Yellow-Throated Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Eastern Wood Pewee
Brown-Headed Cowbird
Mourning Dove
 Summer Tanager
Common Yellowthroat
Carolina Chickadee
Canada Goose
White-Eyed Vireo
Red-Winged Blackbird
Orchard Oriole
Red-Eyed Vireo
Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher
Northern Parula
 Tufted Titmouse
Eastern Bluebird
American Crow
Yellow-Billed Cuckoo
Wood Thrush
Great-Crested Flycatcher
Louisiana Waterthrush
Acadian Flycatcher
Black-and-White Warbler
Black-Throated Green Warbler
 Hooded Warbler
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Cardinal
Prairie Warbler
Indigo Bunting
Brown-Headed Nuthatch
Kentucky Warbler
Chimney Swift
Great Blue Heron
Common Grackle
 Brown Thrasher
Carolina Wren
Downy Woodpecker
Wood Duck?
Gray Catbird
Worm-Eating Warbler?
Vulture sp.
Eastern Phoebe
White-Breasted Nuthatch
Wild Turkey
 Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Eastern Towhee
Cedar Waxwing
Palm Warbler?
Chuck-Will's-Widow
Blue Jay
Red-Shouldered Hawk
Yellow-Throated Vireo
Northern Rough-Winged Swallow
 Northern Mockingbird
Gray-Cheeked Thrush?

Species Count: 61