About Red Slough WMA:
(From ODW's Website):
Red Slough WMA covers 7,800 acres in McCurtain County in southeast Oklahoma. Located 6 miles south of Haworth, the area consists of 3,200 acres of moist soil management units, 1,700 acres of bottomland hardwood restoration fields, and 397 acres of reservoirs. In addition Push Creek intersects the entire WMA. It is cooperatively managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, U.S. Forest Service, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Follow the links to wildlife management areas. Habitat consists of reclaimed rice farm fields, bottomland hardwoods, small areas of open prairie, and replanted hardwood areas. The area also has a waterfowl refuge. Non-toxic shot is required for hunting with deer archery hunting allowed. All waterfowl hunting is closed after 1:00 pm local time. The average annual precipitation for the area is 54 inches.
(From the USDA Forest Service Website):
The Red Slough Wildlife Management Area is a 5,814 acre wetland project designed to restore hydrology and re-establish bottomland hardwoods. It is cooperatively managed by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, and Ducks Unlimited. Project goals and objectives are to maximize diversity and offer outstanding recreational opportunities. Red Slough is a very popular recreational destination located in southeastern Oklahoma and is a premier birdwatching and waterfowl hunting area.
April 16th Excursion
I arrived at Red Slough around 6:00 pm, delayed slightly because of a short stop in Idabel for groceries, and found an appropriate parking area. I gathered my scope and other equipment, and consulted the map as to the locations of the observation decks. The Mudline Road parking area has 3 observation decks within a miles radius, so it proved to be the most suitable location to camp. Above my camp 6 ~ Bank Swallows climbed and dove in pursuit of insects, an interesting welcome to my campsite.
I walked to the observation deck farthest to the west and setup my scope. A pair of Wood Ducks landed in the nearby pond, but quickly relocated after seeing myself towering above them from the observation deck. Several pair of Blue-winged Teal were spotted foraging among the thicker pond vegetation. 6-8 Great Egrets could be observed at various locations around my position. A couple of Great Blue Heron were present, one in flight over the pond and stream.
All the while one could hear the familiar rattle of Red-winged Blackbirds, who sat perched on cattail stalks throughout the pond to the south. Some of the RWBBs grouped in a tree near the deck and I could identify several females. Another blackbird species, Common Grackle, could be seen lurking about the area as well. A small group of Wilson's Snipes was observed flying across the pond, possibly distressed about my presence.
As I walked back to camp, I saw two small clouds of birds, 40~ Mourning Doves, flying across the pond, most likely in search of a roost for the evening.
Bird Count:
Location: Red Slough WMA - Mudline Road Parking - Idabel, OK
Observation date: 4/16/09 Number of species: 10
Wood Duck - Aix sponsa 2
Blue-winged Teal - Anas discors 6
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 2
Great Egret - Ardea alba 8
Green Heron - Butorides virescens 1
Wilson's Snipe - Gallinago delicata 7
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura 40
Bank Swallow - Riparia riparia 6
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus 30
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula 6
Photos:
1) One of the fields surrounding Red Slough WMA.
2) A view of one of the ponds and an observation deck in the distance.
3) A view of a pond (30W, see map) near Mudline Road.
4) Another example of the fields found in and around the WMA
5-7) A view of the sunset across a pond (30E) from my campsite.
-SPQ 4/21/2009
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