Muddy Creek Wetlands

	“The Muddy Creek project, located in Theodore, represents a unique, large-scale endeavor never before attempted in Alabama. The program not only mitigated for wetlands impact on the Port's Theodore Turning Basin property, but also restored native forest ecosystem nearly lost to invasive species. The result is 200 acres of fields and forests that provide for environmental education, wildlife observation, and quiet solitude.” Excerpt from the Muddy Creek Wetlands Management Area Brochure, http://www.asdd.com/pdf/muddycreekbrochure.pdf
I stumbled on this site by accident while wandering south Mobile County’s back roads observing and photographing birds and other wildlife. At first glance, the area looks like any other field you see along the back roads, lots of tall grass and immature pine trees. After a short walk from the gravel parking lot through the tall grass the true beauty of the forested wetland becomes evident at the start of the trail system.
Click on images for a larger picture
	The interpretive trail begins with a long, well constructed boardwalk that winds through the wetland forest. Surprisingly, the area was peaceful and quiet despite its location near the Degussa facility.
	The trail is well-marked and informative signs that point out the different species of trees and other information are posted along the trail.
	After the first section of boardwalk, the trail turns to a dirt path that wanders through an area of Long Leaf Pine habitat restoration. Then another section of Boardwalk takes you across the beaver pond area of the wetland.
	A dirt path continues through a grove of majestic Live Oaks and then onward to another boardwalk that runs along a section of the creek before the path returns to the starting point of the trail.
On my January morning visit, a melody of bird songs filled the air. My movement startled several Wood Ducks into flight from the creek bed at the point where the boardwalk crosses over Muddy Creek. The forest was filled with Yellow-rumped Warblers, as well as American Robins, Sparrows, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, a Pileated Woodpecker, and many other bird and animal species. Tracks of a small deer and many other unseen forest creatures were present along the trails indicating a thriving wildlife population.
Photographs of some of the wildlife I encountered on my visit

	The Pileated Woodpecker is fairly common year round here in south Alabama and prefers forested areas (deciduous, coniferous, or mixed) with trees large enough to provide adequate roosting and nesting. Often associated with mature forests, the Pileated woodpecker can often be found in younger forests, if they contain large trees.
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)		Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
	This bird is difficult to photograph due to its shy and secretive nature and requires considerable stealth and patience to approach without disturbing it into flight.	Commonly found in south Alabama during winter months the Gray Catbird is a secretive, but curious lurker of dense undergrowth, the Gray Catbird is often heard rather than seen. Its song contains imitations of other bird songs, but the characteristic "mew" that gives it its name is not an imitation and sounds only vaguely cat-like.
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

Blue-Headed Vireo (Vireo Solitarius)	Yellow_Rumped Warbler (“Myrtle”) (Dendroica coronata)	Eastern Gray Squirrel
The Blue-Headed Vireo is a fairly common winter visitor to South Alabama. Formerly lumped as a "Solitary Vireo" it is now considered a separate species.	The Yellow-Rumped Warbler is a common winter visitor to South Alabama and is one of the most common warblers in North America. This species was by far the most common bird in the Muddy Creek Wetland during our visit.

	Deer Tracks