Noxubee Refugewildlife

In 3 separate phases: Cattle egret and heron rookeries active; bluebirds and prothonotary warblers nesting, May, Cattle egret rookery full; cormorants and anhingas on Bluff Lake, July and Cattle egrets nesting; wood storks on the lakes, August. They're separate displays, not one long season, and none of them is a peak.

Not now: its usual wildlife window for this year has passed. Next time: Cattle egret and heron rookeries active; bluebirds and prothonotary warblers nesting, May.

From the Bluff Lake Boardwalk. The Fish and Wildlife Service says it crosses a wetland with excellent views of waterfowl, egrets and other wading birds in the rookery in spring and summer, and it ends at an observation platform.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee NWR: Photography ↗ (opens in a new tab)

The refuge’s own calendar lists cattle egret and heron rookeries active, bluebirds and prothonotary warblers nesting and alligators active in May; the cattle egret rookery full, with cormorants and anhingas on Bluff Lake, in July; and wood storks on the lakes, cattle egrets nesting and alligators very visible in August.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee NWR: Species ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Yes. The Fish and Wildlife Service says it offers excellent opportunities all year to photograph alligators, waterfowl, warblers and many other species, from five observation platforms.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee NWR: Photography ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Goose Overlook is reached by a level, 150-foot concrete walk. Otherwise, trails aren't wheelchair accessible unless marked.Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee NWR: Photography ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee NWR: Trails ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Bluff Lake Boardwalk: a 0.15-mile boardwalk over a wetland to an observation platform, with views of waterfowl, egrets and other wading birds in the rookery in spring and summer; no bikes; Goose Overlook: a viewing area on a bluff above the Dickerson Arm of Bluff Lake, reached by a level 150-foot concrete walk.

Fall colors start to show (Oct), Peak of fall colors; expect a killing frost (Nov), Lake fishing season, March 1 through October (bank fishing in set areas all year) (Mar–Oct), December is the refuge's peak hunting month: hunter orange recommended on trails in hunt areas (Dec), Tree blossoms: red maples and elms (Feb), Tree blossoms: redbud, crabapple, wild plum and dogwood (Mar), Queen Anne's lace and maypops bloom (Jun), Black-eyed Susans and purple coneflowers bloom (Jul), Ironweeds bloom (Aug), End of the season for flowering plants (Nov), Red-cockaded woodpeckers start to nest (Apr), White-tailed deer fawns are born (Jun), Alligators very visible (Aug), Selected lakes are drained (Jul), First osprey and bald eagles usually reported (Oct), Woodcock flights arrive from the north; waterfowl numbers build (Nov) and Eagles migrate off the refuge (Mar).