My wife and I planned to meet some friends for dinner at a restaurant in the town where they live, 30 minutes south of our home. On the way there, I wanted to check a birding hotspot where several nice bird species had been seen and photographed.
We veered off our route a mile and a half to drive the narrow, hilly, winding Bells Lane. The road wound up, down, and around for less than two miles. Yet, the habitat varied greatly in that short distance.
As we climbed the first hill lined by brushy fence rows and trees, I spotted a small flock of Canada Geese foraging on the hilltop. Pastured hillsides with tuffs of tall grasses, dotted with a few large trees, roll away on either side of the roadway.
I didn’t dare drive too fast. There was too much to see. Tucked away in the swale of two hills, cattails ringed a small pond, perfect for shorebirds and waterfowl.
Since the day had been mostly cloudy and dusk was nearly upon us, I merely wanted to check out this popular birding spot. Still, I saw a Northern Harrier coursing over a rolling field heading away from us.
Of course, I stopped a few times to take photos of this stunning landscape, even in winter’s dormancy. Amber stocks of spent weeds infiltrated the rolling tan pasture fields. Dead thistle plants painted their own fencerow portraits.
White-crowned Sparrows and White-throated Sparrows flushed from the roadside into the safety of nearby bushes. A Red-tailed Hawk perched on a precarious limb over another fallow field.
What surprised us most were the old, plantation-like farms we found along Bell Lane. The farm lanes were so long and lined with unkempt trees and vegetation that we could hardly see the homes and outbuildings. The settings literally oozed history.
Rounding a curve, we passed a gray-haired lady walking her black lab. On the left, a small pond stood, nearly hidden by the vines threading their way through the saplings and the wire fence.
Please click on the photos to enlarge them.
We crossed a small stream and were soon at the intersection back at the main highway. I was mightily impressed with the opportunity this country lane provides for bird watchers.
Without question, I will be back to Bells Lane. I’ll search for the Sandhill Cranes, Short-earred Owls, and any other birds, big or small. I’ll see what stories this curious road reveals as well.
© Bruce Stambaugh 2026
Roadkill Crossing 