Off The Porch with Judy and Don Self
Bells Landing Park is another of our favorite places to bird and critter watch. This is another site along the Alabama River that offers a variety of habitats in a compact area. It is easily birded on foot, but putting a canoe or kayak into Tallatchee Creek opens the door to some incredible possibilities! Give it a try in April and May to catch the spring migration.
Directions: From the intersection of US Highway 84 (mile marker 64.2) and Monroe County Road 39 at Claiborne, take Monroe 39 north 8.0 miles, then left (north) on Alabama 41 for 16.0 miles to the intersection of Bells Landing Road (mile marker 71.8), turn left (west) on Bells Landing Road and go 1.1 miles to the park entrance.
Description: Continue west 0.4 miles to the parking area at the boat ramp and park. Bells Landing Park’s 320 acres contain a variety of habitats, ranging from pine forest atop the uplands at the entrance to river bottom hardwoods along Tallatchee Creek. The road to the camp sites north of Bells Landing Road and the boat ramp parking area make an excellent “trail” to bird. Walk through the wooden fence on the south side of Bells Landing Road and down the gated gravel road to the camping and picnic area to access more of the stream bank of Tallatchee Creek (please note that this area is subject to flooding during periods of high water in winter and spring).
The Bells Landing boat ramp provides access to Tallatchee Creek about a mile above its confluence with the Alabama River. Canoeing the creek and its old meanders in spring will provide the birder with an excellent opportunity to see and hear Yellow-throated and Red-eyed Vireos, Prothonotary Warblers, American Redstarts, Louisiana Water Thrushes and Summer Tanagers. Anhingas and Swallow-tailed Kites frequently soar above the creek in the spring and summer. Cerulean and Magnolia Warblers use this habitat during migration.
Watch for alligators in the old meanders and sunning on the banks. Feral hogs are also a common site when paddling upstream on Tallatchee Creek.
Mosquitoes (Alabama’s other state bird) can be a problem, especially after spring rains and the use of a good insect repellant is recommended.
Bells Landing boat ramp can be used as the put-in for an Alabama River paddle to Haines Island/Davis Ferry (7.3 miles), Silver Creek Park (15.6 miles), or Isaac’s Creek campground at the Claiborne Lake Dam Site East (18 miles).
Site Access: Free; please note that those parts of the park that are more than 300 feet from park facilities are open to hunting during hunting season.
GPS Coordinates: N 31° 48.228’ / W 87° 24.954’ (Park entrance)
Contact: US Army Corps of Engineers
1226 Power House Road
Camden, AL 36726
Phone: 334-682-4244
Amenities: Restroom, Handicap access, Parking, Camping, Canoeing, Boat access, Picnic area, Hiking