Michelle and I spent a great day birding Laurel Bed Lake for the Audubon Society / Russell County Christmas Bird Count. The weather was nice and for the first time in several years the lake was not frozen over. We found American Coots, Ring-necked Ducks, American Black Ducks, and Pied-billed Grebes on the lake. Highlights in the Elk Garden area included Loggerhead Shrike, Green-winged Teal, Wilson's Snipe, and Common Raven. All the teams met back at the Bonanza Steakhouse in Lebanon for a compilation dinner and to tell stories of the birds that had seen that day.