Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
down this road is the Clear Springs Nature Trail, which includes an extensive boardwalk
through a lovely cypress/tupelo swamp. There is a sign on the main road indicating that this
gravel road goes to the nature trail; along the road are some crop fields that sometimes host
foraging waterfowl and horned larks early in the winter months. Spring and summer song-
birds can be plentiful here; species found here include prothonotary warbler, yellow-throated
warbler, northern parula warbler, Swainson's warbler, Louisiana waterthrush, yellow-
throated vireo, white-breasted nuthatch, and acadian flycatcher. Wood ducks also live here
year-round. Perhaps due to the large number of dead, standing trees in this swamp, the
densest population of red-headed woodpeckers I have ever seen lives here. Late in the after-
noon, they get into fights and what seems like hammering contests, and I have seen as many
as 12 at one time, without turning my head. Hairy woodpecker is also common here. The
trail continues a short way through the woods on the higher ground above the swamp, but the
swamp is the real treasure of this spot; it is very beautiful in the light of sunset. Be prepared
though; in the summer months, the insects in this swamp, like most in the South, are fierce.
Sardis Waterfowl Refuge northwest of Oxford is the winter home of thousands of Canada
geese, and small numbers of snow geese and greater white-fronted geese also winter there.
The refuge headquarters can be reached by taking SH 314 out of Oxford; SH 314 (Jackson
Avenue, westward out of the square) goes out of the town square downtown at its northwest
corner. Turn right towards College Hill, Sardis Reservoir, and the airport on Airport Road,
which is well marked with signs. After 1. 1 miles, just past a right turn that goes to the airport
is another right that is marked with a sign for Sardis Waterfowl Refuge; this is a four-lane
road. Take another right onto a dirt road after 4.9 miles; a sign indicates this turn to the refuge.
This dirt road will go 3.5 miles and dead-end into the refuge; watch for northern bobwhite,
eastern bluebird, and eastern kingbird in the fields alongside the road. The refuge headquar-
ters is mostly dedicated to the study and maintenance of the refuge and not geared towards
visitors. The eastern edge of the refuge can be scanned from Hurricane Landing, which can
be reached either by taking the marked connecting road (Lafayette County Road 103) off SH
314 going to the refuge headquarters or by taking Lafayette County Road 108 west off SH 7
at the Abbeville exit. Hurricane Landing has a series of boat ramps with some picnic areas
and camping available; depending on the water level, a series of viewpoints west into the
fields and submerged woodlands of the refuge are available; bring your spotting scope. Wood
ducks are regular here.
Enid Lake
The third, and the smallest of this string of lakes, Enid Lake varies from 6,100 to 28,000
acres in size. Many of the same bird species that have been spotted at the other lakes may
also show up here. A Franklin's gull was spotted here in the spring of 1992. The camping and
