Archive for the ‘birding’ Category
Whale Migration in Full Swing for 2009
—Posted Monday, January 12th, 2009 at 11:26 am—
We went out yesterday to the Headlands to check out the whales, and we ended up seeing a bunch — we saw at least 6 pods in 30 minutes. Since the weather has been so beautiful lately — not to mention that there are over 20,000 whales migrating — they are easy to see as they steam past on the way to Baja. You can see them anywhere from shore right now, and the whalewatching boats out of Noyo can get you quite close. The Mendocino Headlands make a great location, as well as Point Cabrillo Light Station. The southern leg of the migration will continue for a few more weeks, and then we’ll start seeing the returning whales by March (they come back by for the Whale Festival, conveniently enough).
I’ve also been seeing a lot of brown pelicans lately. The picture is of a juvenile, according to a bird expert friend, since the bill is still orange, and his colors aren’t developed yet. I love watching them fly in a column just above the water!
Dedication of Laguna Point Interpretive Panels
—Posted Thursday, December 18th, 2008 at 7:15 pm—
The public is invited to attend a dedication ceremony on December 20 at 10 am as California State Parks proudly announces the installation of 11 new interpretive panels along the boardwalk at Laguna Point, part of MacKerricher State Park.The panels are designed to inspire and inform visitors about the natural and cultural history of Laguna Point and surrounding areas. These dynamic panels describe and depict a variety of topics including Native American traditions, logging history, harbor seals, gray whales and more. Also included along the boardwalk is an important display on how to stay safe on the shore. These are the newest and arguably the best interpretive panels that State Parks has anywhere on the Mendocino Coast, and we are very excited to share them with locals and visitors alike! Entrance to the park is free, so plan on bringing your families to enjoy a stroll and stop by Laguna Point at 10:00 am for the ceremony. MacKerricher State Park, 3 miles north of Fort Bragg, California, on Highway 1. To reach the dedication ceremony location, enter at the park’s main entrance, where you see the large wooden sign, and turn left at the second stop sign. Follow the park road past Lake Cleone and under the bridge to the Laguna Point Parking lot near the ocean. For more information on these exciting new panels or the dedication ceremony, please contact Park Interpreter Fred Andrews at (707) 961-0471.
Still tickets left for the Spring Pelagic Trip
—Posted Tuesday, May 6th, 2008 at 7:33 pm—
Join Mendocino Coast Audubon Society for their Spring Pelagic Trip on May 18, as they sail from Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg aboard the Trek II (departing at 8:00 AM and returning about 3:00 PM). To reserve your spot, please mail a check, PAYABLE TO MCAS, for $95 per person to: K. Havlena – Pelagic Trip, PO Box 40, Fort Bragg, CA 95437-0040. Please include name(s) of participants, mailing address, telephone number and email address. For information call 964-6835.
Pelagic Trips: They’re for the Birds
—Posted Thursday, April 24th, 2008 at 2:05 pm—
The idea of climbing into a boat and motoring for hours out to sea to view birds seems a bit of an oxymoron. But of course, I’m a non-birder. In fact, pelagic trips are becoming increasing popular as birders look for varieties that don’t come to shore so they can expand their “life list” (all the birds they’ve seen in their life). One such trip, sponsored by the Mendocino Coast Audubon Society, is coming up May 18. (more…)
Of Tundra Swans, Waterfalls, and Organic Cows
—Posted Monday, December 24th, 2007 at 4:35 pm—
A couple of days ago, I went down to Point Arena with Bruce because I heard that the tundra swans had returned to their local resting spot during migration. When we got down to the Garcia River, I was hoping I would see dozens of swans as I had in the past. On the south side of the river, there’s a huge green wetland that the tundra swans love. On Friday, though, there was only a single swan. Bruce thought he saw some off in the distance on the north side of the river, so we decided to return after visiting the Stornetta Preserve to see the waterfall after recent rains. It’s an easy mile-long walk out to the waterfall.
There was certainly more water coming off the waterfall than in the summer, but the real story was the ocean. The waves were at times quite large — large enough for the spray to obscure the waterfall! Unlike the last time we went down there, it was a sunny day, and we could see the Point Arena Lighthouse in the distance to the north.
After we headed back to the Garcia River wetlands, we went off on a side road on the north side of the river — but just around the bend, it was marked as Private Property. A man came along in a pickup as we were starting to turn around, and we asked if we could go in and take some pictures of the swans. He said it wasn’t his land, so we couldn’t get out there. But he urged us to follow him, and he took off. A couple of miles up the highway, he turned off on a dirt road towards the ocean. In a short while, we were entering the Clover Dairy — not only the sole dairy in the county, it’s also the only organic dairy in the county. He told us to join him in his truck, and he took us out a short distance to where the swans were hanging out in the fields. He introduced himself as Walt Stornetta, the owner of the dairy. He has about 400 cows on 550 acres of land. Each cow produces on average 67 pounds of milk — about 8 gallons a day. I felt really lucky to run into him like we did, and that he was so generous with his time.
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