Crescent City. Redwoods. Birthday Birds Part I

The redwood forests are my favorite. There’s nothing like giant, 2000 yr old trees to make a person feel small and young. An appropriate destination to celebrate another revolution around the sun, see some birds, and hug some trees. I drove down to Crescent City, California, to first visit Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.

The park is gorgeous, surreal, and amazing. And quiet this day for birds aside from the occasional squawking Common Raven or twittering Pacific Wren.

 

From the forest to the sea. The next day, I checked out Crescent City’s coastline. The quiet seaside town has a few good birding spots. I had the best luck at the Crescent City Harbor.

A Marbled Godwit! What a stunner.

It would be fun to check out Godwit Days in Arcata next year.

Less stunning perhaps, but still cool, (especially in flight), were the Black Turnstones.

I also found Black-bellied Plovers (with deceptive “not black belllies,” their non-breeding plumage).

I spotted a Sanderling in the mix of Black-bellied Plovers.

Too cute.

There were way more Sanderlings on the beach moments before something spooked them.

Not guilty.

Certainly elegant were the Elegant Terns.

I find the shape of their curves pleasant and I think they pull off the spikey feathered head look pretty well.

I did my best identifying the gulls.

I watched Brown Pelicans bathe in the bay.

While Black Oystercatchers scouted the shore.

A variety of birds were visible in the distance from the dock at Lighthouse and Anchor Way:

Harbor cats.

And Harbor Seals with faces I’m programmed to love.

It was pretty thrilling to explore a new place surrounded by so many new-to-me birds. I think I need more of that in my life.

Next day, back to the forest!

Tweets and chirps,

Audrey