A 1.1-mile gravel and boardwalk A.D.A.-accessible trail meanders through a wetland created by a beaver dam and along the shoreline of two embayments of the Elk River.  The trail loops around an open field.  Two raised wooden overlooks provide viewing access to the Elk River. Swamp, Chipping, White-throated, Savannah, and Song sparrows are plentiful here. […] A visit to the Beaverdam Peninsula Tower (Site #24, Northeast Loop) in the summer may make visitors wonder why the tower is even mentioned. This broad observation platform sits in wheat and corn fields dotted with a few Red-winged Blackbirds. While a visit in the summer might not impress, once fall is in the air, […] Arrowhead Landing  (Site # 23, Central Loop) is located on Limestone Bay, another corner of the fertile Wheeler Reservoir and the Tennessee River. There is an outstanding view of the bay and the wooded areas on Beaverdam Peninsula. Watch the open water for rafts of Lesser Scaups, Red-breasted Mergansers, Green-winged Teals, Common Loons, and perhaps […] Swan Creek Wildlife Management Area (Site # 21, Central Loop) on the Tennessee River is managed for waterfowl and small game, although it supports many more species. Mudflats can be covered with shorebirds, serving as a key attraction to this area in the fall. Search among the typical Yellowlegs and Killdeer for unusual species such as […] The Beaverdam Swamp Boardwalk (Site #25, Central Loop) leads the visitor into the heart of the largest Tupelo Swamp in Alabama. While exploring the boardwalk, watch the canopy for active flocks of Tufted Titmice, Red-eyed Vireos, and warblers. The swamp usually rings with the songs of frogs, insects, and numerous birds including Eastern Wood-Pewee, Great-crested […] Round Island Recreation Area  (Site #22, Central Loop) provides access to the north side of the Tennessee River and an excellent vantage point for viewing winter waterfowl as well as cormorants, loons, and grebes. The pine woodland that surrounds the camping area is scattered with songbirds such as Red-breasted Nuthatches and numerous kinglets in winter. […] The Decatur Hospitality Nature Park (Site 17, Central Loop),  nearby US Highway 31 Causeway, and the Decatur Boat Harbor provide a great opportunity to scan the waters of the Tennessee River for winter waterfowl and shorebirds. This area is one of the first sites to develop mudflats in the fall as water levels begin to […] White Springs Dike (Site #20, Central Loop) on Wheeler NWR is one of the premier birding sites of the Tennessee River Valley in Alabama. The dike runs between a de-watering area on the north side and the Tennessee River on the south. Intrepid birders can walk for more than eight miles along the dike, getting excellent […]