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I arrived at 8:08. It was completely overcast and officially about 40 F but the cold was penetrating and it seemed much colder after a bit. I walked up (northward) along the west side of the backwater and then just inside the backwater entrance before deciding to leave at 9:30. It started to rain just as I was approaching the car.

Species seen or heard:
• Chipping Sparrow
• Le Conte’s Sparrow
• Rock Pigeon
• Blue Jay
• American Crow
• Eastern Bluebird
• Northern Cardinal
• Carolina Wren
• White-throated Sparrow
• Red-tailed Hawk
• American Coot
• Northern Mockingbird
• Carolina Chickadee
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• Swamp Sparrow
• Killdeer
• Eastern Towhee
• Downy Woodpecker
• Belted Kingfisher
• Savannah Sparrow
• Turkey Vulture
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

I arrived at 8:15. As I started to cross the spillway to the WMA, I heard shot guns. I figured that the deer hunters were probably on the far side where I had seen many deer before. Shortly I met two and then three more duck hunters. After the first two, I decided that today might not be the best day for Bell Slough and turned back. I left the area at 9:30.

Species seen or heard:
• American Coot
• Great Blue Heron
• Great Egret
• European Starling
• Northern Flicker
• American Crow
• Belted Kingfisher
• Northern Mockingbird
• Carolina Wren
• Ring-necked Duck
• Common Goldeneye
• Double-crested Cormorant
• Pied-billed Grebe
• Ring-billed Gull
• Carolina Chickadee
• White-throated Sparrow
• Blue Jay
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Tufted Titmouse
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Song Sparrow
• American Goldfinch
• Brown Creeper
• Northern Cardinal
• Fox Sparrow
• Bufflehead
• Bonaparte’s Gull
• Eastern Towhee

I decided to walk the entire loop this morning while the turkey was cooking. I arrived at 8:15 and walked clockwise around taking about 2:10 to complete the 1.8 mile loop. I saw my first of season Cedar Waxwings, Purple Finch, and Brown Creeper. In all, I identified 27 species. The trail offers a nice alternative to the more populated paved trails at the landing.
Species seen or heard:
• Pied-billed Grebe
• Blue Jay
• Double-crested Cormorant
• Great Blue Heron
• Carolina Chickadee
• American Crow
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Song Sparrow
• Tufted Titmouse
• Eastern Towhee
• Downy Woodpecker
• Carolina Wren
• Northern Cardinal
• White-throated Sparrow
• Fox Sparrow
• Mourning Dove
• Purple Finch
• Northern Flicker
• Cedar Waxwings
• American Robin
• Red-shouldered Hawk
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet
• Northern Mockingbird
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• Brown Creeper
• Ring-billed Gull
• Bonaparte’s Gull