Great blue herons and other wildlife abound along Shoal Creek, one of the best paddling adventures available in north Alabama and south Tennessee.

The pair of American bald eagles in these photographs have been nesting in recent years just north of Iron City, Tennessee. I was able to photograph them in late March

from my kayak with a compact camera and superzoom lens. Another pair of eagles are downstream at Goose Shoals in Lauderdale County, Alabama. We watched them dive-bombing into the shoals for fish.

Paddling with

bald eagles

Photos/video by Scott Morris

Wayne Williams, of Florence, paddles along the bluffs of Shoal Creek, south of Iron City, Tennessee. If you're looking for a safe paddling trip with enough current for a leisurely float, Shoal Creek is a good choice. An outfitter in Iron City rents boats and gear, and provides shuttle service for those who need a watercraft.

On a recent 16.4-mile kayaking trip on Shoal Creek from Westpoint, Tennessee, to Goose Shoals, Alabama, we spotted

two pairs of bald eagles.