Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
sandpiper, solitary sandpiper, spotted sandpiper, and least sandpiper. Spring migration can
also include varieties of warblers and vireos, bobolink, merlin, and scarlet tanager. Autumn
can include some of those species and also buff-breasted sandpiper.
A spotting scope is necessary to cover the great expanse of shorelines visible from over-
look areas.
Arkabutla Lake
Used mainly as a flood control reservoir, Arkabutla Lake can vary from 11,240 acres at
low pool to over 33,000 acres at full pool. To reach the dam area, where most of the facilities
and many of the good overlooks are, take exit 280 off I-55 at Hernando; go west on DeSoto
County Road 304 until it reaches County Road 301 in Eudora. (CR 304 continues on these
other roads as Scenic Loop 304, and south of the dam, it will take you back to I-55 at the
Coldwater exit.) Then, turn left (south) and drive until the road turns left onto Pratt Road and
goes to the dam. Here, the Dub Patton recreation area and campground provide numerous
views over the lake. Three hiking trails begin from the picnic area along the northern side of
the outlet channel. There are a short nature trail along the channel, a 2 mile loop trail, and a 5
mile loop going off the 2 mile trail. On the south side of the outlet channel is the beaver pond
nature trail, which gives a short hike into the woods and swampy areas there. These trails
provide good access to the woodlands below the dam. On the southern end of the dam, the
South Abutment day-use area and campground and the Bayou Point picnic area provide good
views over the lake. During winter, watch the lake around the dam for various gull species,
ducks, and common loon. Watch for eastern bluebird in the grassy areas around the dam.
Sardis Lake
Either because of its good location or because it is extensively birded by local birders,
Sardis Lake reveals a high number of accidentals and unusual bird species for the area.
Providing flood control on the Little Tallahatchie River, the coverage of the lake can fluctuate
from 9,800 acres to 58,500 acres. The area around the dam and John W. Kyle State Park
on the lake just north of the dam give good overviews of the lake. During winter, the lake
above the dam and Lower Lake (a second, 350-acre lake below the dam) are habitat for mi-
grating gulls, including six rare or casual species that have been spotted here. These are the
Bonaparte's, little, black-headed, ring-billed, and lesser black-backed gulls, and black-legged
kittiwake. Franklin's gull can sometimes be found during migration. Common loon, various
duck species, and horned grebe can also be found near the dam in early winter. As many as
18 duck species have been seen regularly at this lake. During summer, Mississippi kite has
nested in the dam area.
