Guin Treatment Ponds, in Marion County, AL

Like most water treatment facilities, the potential for surprises makes this spot worth monitoring. Over the past six years, approximately 100 species have been recorded in the immediate vicinity of these ponds. The best time for rarities has been late March to early April, with eared grebe, long-tailed duck and red-throated loon all being recorded in this time window. In addition to waterfowl, several species of sparrow can be found in winter.in the vegetation surrounding the pond.

Directions:

From the only traffic light in Guin, go west on AL 142 (opposite direction from Birmingham). Turn right onto Marion Co. 16 after 1/2 mile. The ponds are 1/2 mile on the left.

Here's a species list for the Guin treatment ponds as compiled by Jud Johnston in Winfield. Descriptions and directions are also from Jud; thanks!

1 COMMON LOON
2 RED-THROATED LOON
3 EARED GREBE
4 HORNED GREBE
5 PIED-BILLED GREBE
6 AMERICAN COOT
7 WOOD DUCK
8 MALLARD
9 BLUE-WINGED TEAL
10 GREEN-WINGED TEAL
11 NORTHERN SHOVELLER
12 NORTHERN PINTAIL
13 CANVASBACK
14 REDHEAD
15 LESSER SCAUP
16 GREATER SCAUP
17 RUDDY DUCK
18 COMMON GOLDENEYE
19 BUFFLEHEAD
20 GADWALL
21 AMERICAN WIGEON
22 RING-NECKED DUCK
23 LONG-TAILED DUCK
24 HOODED MERGANSER
25 RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
26 CANADA GOOSE
27 SNOW GOOSE
28 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
29 RING-BILLED GULL
30 HERRING GULL
31 BONAPARTE'S GULL
32 FORSTER'S TERN
33 LEAST TERN
34 BLACK TERN
35 NORTHERN HARRIER
36 RED-TAILED HAWK
37 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK
38 BROAD-WINGED HAWK
39 SHARP-SHINNED HAWK
40 COOPER'S HAWK
41 KESTREL
42 OSPREY
43 TURKEY VULTURE
44 BLACK VULTURE
45 NORTHERN BOBWHITE
46 GREAT BLUE HERON
47 GREEN HERON
48 LITTLE BLUE HERON
49 GREAT EGRET
50 SNOWY EGRET
51 CATTLE EGRET
52 WILSON'S SNIPE
53 SPOTTED SANDPIPER
54 MOURNING DOVE
55 BELTED KINGFISHER
56 DOWNY WOODPECKER
57 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER
58 PILEATED WOODPECKER
59 CHIMNEY SWIFT
60 PURPLE MARTIN
61 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW
62 BARN SWALLOW
63 CLIFF SWALLOW
64 TREE SWALLOW
65 BANK SWALLOW
66 EASTERN PEEWEE
67 EASTERN PHOEBE
68 EASTERN KINGBIRD
69 NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
70 EASTERN BLUEBIRD
71 LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE
72 CEDAR WAXWING
73 BLUE JAY
74 AMERICAN CROW
75 MARSH WREN
76 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET
77 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET
78 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER
79 PALM WARBLER
80 TENNESSEE WARBLER
81 COMMON YELLOWTHROAT
82 EUROPEAN STARLING
83 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD
84 COMMON GRACKLE
85 BOBOLINK
86 EASTERN MEADOWLARK
87 SONG SPARROW
88 SAVANNAH SPARROW
89 WHITE-THROATED SPARROW
90 SWAMP SPARROW
91 CHIPPING SPARROW
92 FIELD SPARROW
93 HENSLOW'S SPARROW
94 VESPER SPARROW
95 EASTERN TOWHEE
96 NORTHERN CARDINAL
97 BLUE GROSBEAK
98 INDIGO BUNTING