Tour Information
Visit the Red Slough Website:   http://fs.usda.gov/goto/ouachita/redslough

Visit the Red Slough WMA Pictures:  
http://www.pbase.com/red_slough_wma
McCurtain County Wilderness Area

The McCurtain County Wilderness Area (MCWA), managed by the Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation, is the largest block of virgin shortleaf pine forest in
Oklahoma.  It is also the only location within the state for the endangered red-cockaded
woodpecker (RCW).  On this tour, you will learn about shortleaf pine/bluestem restoration
projects and RCW management within the MCWA and adjacent Ouachita National
Forest and see a demonstration of tree climbing for RCW management.  This tour is
geared more towards viewing the habitat and understanding management principles
than walking and looking for birds.  You will visit an active RCW cluster and the chances
of viewing a bird are good, especially if young are in the nesting cavity and the parents
are in feeding mode.  Other birds you may encounter on this tour include scarlet tanager,
summer tanager, red-headed woodpecker, pileated woodpecker, pine warbler, Kentucky
warbler, black-and-white warbler, yellow-throated warbler, indigo bunting, brown-headed
nuthatch, bachman’s sparrow, yellow-throated vireo, red-eyed vireo, eastern wood
pewee, and great-crested flycatcher.
Red Slough Birding Tour
On the Red Slough tour, you will visit numerous habitats including
emergent wetlands, mudflats, reservoirs, scrub/shrub, and willow tree
rows.  It is not unusual to see over 100 species of birds in a day during the
month of May.  Expected birds of interest include:  Purple and Common
Gallinule, King Rail, Sora, American & Least Bitterns, Neotropic
Cormorant, Anhinga, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, White Ibis, White-
faced Ibis, Hudsonian Godwit, Black-necked Stilt, Least Tern, Bell’s Vireo,
Marsh & Sedge Wrens, Prothonotary Warbler, Painted Bunting, and
Bobolink.   Other birds of interest that might be spotted include:  Mottled
Duck, Glossy Ibis, Virginia Rail, and Yellow-headed Blackbird.  American
Alligators are often seen on this tour as well as numerous wildflowers such
as Alligator Flag, Obedient Plant, Spider Lily, and Blue Flag Iris.  Bird
viewing will be done from levee roads and observation platforms.  Bring
rubber boots as the grass on the levees in the mornings is usually wet.  
Spotting scopes may come in handy but are not necessary as the guides
will have them.  Bring your cameras!
Prairie Wildflowers

The wildflower walk is conducted on a prairie near the Idabel airport.  Access to the
prairie is immediately adjacent to a main highway which makes the walk easy for all
physical conditions.  You may be walking through tall grass, so you may want to wear
boot and carry bug spray.  With no shade existing, it can get hot on the open prairie and
a hat and water may be considerations for you.  
Over 50 species of wildflowes have been documented on the prairie.  Some of the more
colorful ones you will see include blue falso indigo, Indian paintbrush, larkspur, purple
coneflower, barbara’s buttons, celestial lily, purple beard tongue, and widow’s cross.
Little River National Wildlife Refuge Tour:

The star of this birding tour is the Swainson's Warbler.  This species has been studied on
the Little River National Wildlife Refuge for the past 12 years and tour leaders are very
knowledgeable about their territory locations, behavior, breeding biology and nesting
behavior.  Most importantly, this trip has never failed to "produce" a Swainson's Warbler
for the viewing pleasure (and listing status) of the tour groups.  In addition to the
Swainson's Warbler, you will very likely get Hooded Warblers, Kentucky Warblers,
Black-and-white Warblers, Pine Warblers, Prothonotary Warblers, Yellow-throated
Warblers, Prairie Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, and Yellow-breasted Chats.  These
are just the residents, and, depending on local conditions, there is no telling which
migratory warbler species might be present!  The tour guides like to refer to the refuge as
"Warblerville"!  You are also very likely to encounter Summer Tanagers, Indigo Buntings,
Yellow-throated Vireos, Red-eyed Vireos, White-eyed Vireos, Wood Thrushes and
Blue-gray Gnatcatchers.  Wading birds of many types are likely including: Great Egret,
Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Green Heron, Great Blue Heron, American Bittern and
Yellow-crowned Night Heron.  You almost always see Anhingas and several duck
species.  The refuge is at its loveliest in early spring, with the Spider Lilies and Swamp
Irises in bloom.  It is still usually relatively cool and pleasant for an amazing birding event!
Red Slough Dragonfly Tour
Over 80 species of Odonates (dragonflies & damselflies) have been documented at
Red Slough.  On the Odonate tour, we will visit a variety of habitats to maximize the
number of species found.  We will look for the secretive spreadwings in their shaded
woodland abodes and for the tiny Southern Sprites around Teal Lake, one of only two
known locations for this species in Oklahoma.  We will look for the Swamp Darner,
Oklahoma’s largest dragonfly.  There’s also a good chance of seeing the Stillwater
Clubtail and the Ebony Jewelwing.  A good variety of the King Skimmer species are
always present.  A host of other common species will be encountered as well.
The championship tree tour visits several Oklahoma record trees as determined by
the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Forestry Services.  Idabel has the largest
number of record trees in the state.  Post oak, willow oak, shumard oak, red maple
and others will be seen.  A trip to Little River National Wildlife Refuge will view bald
cypress, sugar maple, cherrybark oak, sugarberry and sweet leaf.  The opportunity
for a faunal experience always exists as we look at some of the giants and unique
areas of the floral world.  We will walk to the trees where it is possible and access
allows.