Holy Ground Battlefield Park, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers day-use recreation area, has an interesting history. It was the site of an 1813 skirmish between U.S. soldiers who were aided by a cadre of Choctaws including their chief, Pushmataha, and an encampment of Red Stick Creek Indians led by the famed William Weatherford ' better known as Chief Red Eagle. Red Eagle escaped by taking his horse across the river at this spot while under heavy fire.

Presently, the area is quiet and well maintained with paved roads, comfortable restrooms, an interpretive kiosk related to birding the area, extensive cleared trails, and a fine blend of mature woodlands and deep-water lake and creeks. The entrance road provides almost two miles of edge with outstanding sightlines, while there are ample views of the lake from the boat ramp at the end of the road.

Expect to see a broad mix of woodland and bottomland songbirds, numerous woodpeckers, various raptors, and a good number of wading birds along the shores of Woodruff Lake. Bald Eagles and Ospreys nest at various points along Woodruff Lake and can be seen throughout the year. Watch for scattered gulls and a few Forster's Terns as well as small numbers of waterfowl in the colder months.

In the warmer months, you will see numerous Indigo Buntings and White-eyed Vireos. Summer Tanagers, Pileated Woodpeckers, and Wild Turkeys are also common sights. A broad sample of warblers, vireos, flycatchers, and woodpeckers are present from spring through fall. Look for mixed-species feeding flocks in winter.

Depending on how long you want to spend trail-walking, you can cover the site in two to four hours.

Contact Holy Ground Battlefield Park

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Listed in:

• Ecotourism