Harbor Seals Moss Landing SB, California

Harbor Seals Moss Landing SB, California

Harbor Seals Moss Landing SB, California

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Moss Landing State Beach: Birds

Marbled Godwits Moss Landing SB, California

Least Sandpiper Moss Landing SB, California

Great Blue Heron Moss Landing SB, California

Brown Pelican Moss Landing SB, California

Unidentified, any ideas? Leave a comment! Moss Landing SB, California

Snowy Egret Moss Landing SB, California

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August 6, 2006

Elkhorn Slough: A Marine Superhighway

Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve is located halfway between Santa Cruz and Monterey in Moss Landing. I've seen more diversity of marine life here than any other place in Monterey or Santa Cruz, despite the fact that the Moss Landing Power Plant looms over the slough. It makes for some interesting photographs. We headed off to the slough to test our a new telephoto lens. Here are just a few of the birds we saw.

Long-Billed Curlew Elkhorn Slough Reserve, California

The Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve is one of the few California wetlands left and home to the Long-billed Curlew. According to the Audubon Society WatchList, the Long-billed Curlew is one of the largest and most threatened shorebirds in North America. Their long bills allow them to catch tasty insects.

The U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan lists Long-billed Curlew as a "Highly Imperiled" species of shorebird, based on population trends, relative abundance, threats on breeding grounds, and threats on non-breeding grounds.

More at: Audubon WatchList: Long-billed Curlew

A Pod Of Brown Pelicans Elkhorn Slough Reserve, California

Groups of pelicans are called pods and you'll often see them flying in formation. They like to fly up and down the Elkhorn Slough, often so close to the water that the ends of their long wings skim the surface. The Brown Pelican is the more common pelican species to be sighted in the area. The other is the rarer American White Pelican.

The Brown Pelican also has the honor of being the state bird of Louisiana. If you visit New Orleans, you'll find them carved on all the state buildings.

Least Sandpiper Elkhorn Slough Reserve, California

As you all know by now, I am not a birder. I try to identify all my photos with the proper species but birds still confuse me a bit. I'm pretty sure this is a Least Sandpiper. They look sortof like plovers to me - they're pretty small. But this one has yellow legs, and so I am thinking this is actually a Least Sandpiper. Its small size and yellow legs were my main indicator. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the Least Sandpiper is the smallest shorebird in the world.

Western Gull Elkhorn Slough Reserve, California

Western gulls are pretty easily identified by the bright yellow bill with red spot on the end, with yellow irises, but of course it gets rather tricky because they look different when they are born, versus yearlings and two year olds.

Western Gull Elkhorn Slough Reserve, California

There are about 15 sub-species of gull that make their home at some point in the year at Elkhorn Slough. Some like the Glaucous Gull, Sabine's Gull, Swallow-tailed Gull, Laughing Gull, Little Gull, and Franklin's Gull are quite rare, while others like the Bonaparte's Gull, Heermann's Gull and Mew Gull are unusual but sighted on occasion. Still, the Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Herring Gull, Thayer's Gull, Western Gull, and Glaucous-winged Gull are quite common.

Western Gull Elkhorn Slough Reserve, California

Elkhorn gulls are pretty cheeky. You can walk up to them and they will not budge from their spot until the last possible moment.

Find out more about Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve on the NOAA website or at the Elkhorn Slough Foundation.

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The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park

Margaret's Bridge Nisene Marks SP, California

Santa Cruz State Parks cover a wide variety of terrains, from natural bridges on the beaches and marine sanctuaries, to the redwoods and coastal mountain ranges. And its not just natural beauty that brings people out, but the historical aspects as well. You'll find water wheels and lime kilns and old light railroad tracks that are now well-loved mountain biking trails.

The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park is one such park. Located in Aptos, it's one of the best places in Santa Cruz to go mountain biking in a park, but there are also hiker-only trails, which is good because we found that a lot of the bikers were totally out of control on the fire roads and such. One of our friends even flew off a bridge and broke his back about ten years ago (he's fine now, but I've never seen him on a bike).

Shane In Clover Nisene Marks SP, California

We originally went out to try out some new lenses we acquired for our upcoming honeymoon to Africa, but it was also nice to just hang out in the forest.

Aptos Creek and its tributaries is one of the dwindling watersheds that empty into the Pacific but are still viable for native fishes like the steelhead, (aka rainbow trout). Recent habitat studies of the Aptos Creek Watershed have shown that lower water levels, debris in the creek and high levels of sediment all impede the fish from living, migrating and making baby fishes.

Shane Fords Aptos Creek Nisene Marks SP, California

Rainbow trout aren't the only native fishes, either. Coho salmon levels have been declining in general, but because Nisene Marks is a state park, much of the watershed is protected land and in good condition. Twenty years ago, the salmon was seen in Aptos Creek but they haven't been seen much since. However, researchers believe this has more to do with the ocean water quality and lack of a local spawning population, and perhaps a few bad years of weather, as opposed to the quality of the watershed itself.

Coastal Redwoods Nisene Marks SP, California

The range of coastal redwoods is generally limited to the fog belt, which is up to about 13 miles inland from the ocean. The fog is thickest in summer, rolling in in late afternoon and sometimes not burning off til noon the following day. During the winter, the heavy rains make up for the dry summer weather.

Mill Pond Trail Nisene Marks SP, California

The Mill Pond Trail is a nice short amble up among redwood groves, across Aptos Creek . You pass the old Loma Prieta Mill Site, just shy of the epicenter of the 1989 earthquake. You turn and cross over a bridge, beneath which you'll find a sort of secret shrine. Just beyond, you can see where the Porter House was built, and walk a nice bike-free trail back down to Margaret's Bridge and back to the picnic areas and parking.

Aptos Creek Along Mill Pond Trail Nisene Marks SP, California

Banana slugs are seen in abundance, as are the mosquitos. In summer, the roads and trails can get very dusty, but in the winter, and down by the creek, you can still enjoy some greenery despite the otherwise browning grasses famous of summer of California.

Here's a great map of the Nisene Marks, since the state park website doesn't seem to have one. Also, check out some of Erik Goetze's Quicktime VR Virtual Viewpoints of the park.

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