CALIFORNIA REDWOODS BIRDING TRAIL DEL NORTE COUN TY, CALIFORNIA 151. Smith River Mouth From Hwy 101 at OR/CA border, drive nter the realm of the California Redwoods Birding Trail after crossing the state line, a landscape containing 419 5 mi S to Mouth of Smith River Rd, Erecorded species of birds and characterized by majestic redwood groves and coastal lagoons. The major town is turn R, and go 0.5 mi to parking lot. Crescent City, with the Birding Trail extending through the redwoods south to the Klamath River, and east a short The Wild and Scenic Smith River, its distance along the Smith River. Stop by the Chamber of Commerce on Front Street for a more comprehensive 43-site free-flowing waters among the clean- California Redwoods Birding Trail map and guide. Highlights include Lake Tolowa and Lake Earl near Crescent City; est in the lower 48 states, supports together they comprise the largest coastal lagoon south of Alaska. Castle Rock National Wildlife Refuge is the third large runs of wild salmon. The estu- largest seabird colony in the Lower 48 states, with 11 species of nesting seabirds. Special birds to watch for are Aleutian ary and mouth are habitat for a variety Cackling Geese in the verdant fields of the Smith River bottoms and the Northern Spotted Owl in the redwood forests. of year-round resident and migrant Perhaps the most exciting and unusual site of the entire birding trail is eight nautical miles to the west of Crescent City birds including Common and Pacific on Saint George Reef—a pelagic site and home to the Saint George Reef Lighthouse. A visit by boat will delight you Loon, Brown Pelican, Western Grebe, with views of Black-footed Albatross, Sooty Shearwater, and Rhinoceros auklet. Double-crested Cormorant, and West- ern and Glaucous-winged Gull. The estuary is the best spot in the county to see Snowy Egret, Black-crowned 199 Night Heron and Great Blue Heron. r e v k Watch for harbor seal basking in the 151 i ree Rd R C ki h op sun or a local family of river otter. it Kn 172 m S k EFGH 153 r o F Pala Rd Sponsor: Crescent City-Del Norte h t r 173 152 o N County Chamber of Commerce iver Moseley Rd S R m ith i m t S h ork 152. Alexandre F R dle Lower Lake Rd id i Gasquet M v EcoDairy Farm Lake Earl Dr 197 e r From Hwy 101 at OR/CA border, drive 10.5 mi S, cross the Smith River, turn 199 R on Lake Earl Dr, then first R on Bai- Jedediah 169 Smith ley, first L on Mosley, turn R at T on Redwoods Crescent State Park Lower Lake Rd, drive 1 mi to turnout City d l R 168 by red building on R to view pond. Hil land How 170 S Best birded by car, the pond and 167 o u S th verdant fields of this beautiful Eco- o u F o th r k Dairy is a must-see because of the F R o d rk concentrations of waterfowl and Sm ith shorebirds and the possibility of R iv e rarities. The pond’s water is lowest in r fall and highest winter-spring when Del Norte Mallard, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Redwoods yellowlegs, dowitchers and sandpip- State Park ers congregate and Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawk and Peregrine 171 Falcon appear. Rarities have included Eurasian Wigeon, Tundra Swan, and 164 Emperor Goose. Common birds are Bald Eagle, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, and Aleutian Cack- ling Goose. A small herd of American 165 Bison roam the fields. 166 lam FGK K a th Riv Sponsor: Alexandre EcoDairy er Farms 40 153. Pala Road and 154. Lake Tolowa Estuary d R Moseley Rd e From Hwy 101 at the OR/CA border, k Smith River Bend a L drive 10.5 mi S, cross the Smith Riv- r e From Hwy 101 at the OR/CA border, RdBailey w er, turn R on Lake Earl Dr, then first o drive 10.5 mi S, cross the Smith River, Kellogg Rd L turn R on Lake Earl Dr, then first R on R on Bailey, first L on Mosley, turn L Bailey, first L on Mosley, turn R at T on at T on Lower Lake Rd and turn R on Kellogg Rd. Go 0.8 mi to L on Lower Lake Rd Lower Lake Rd and drive through the Tell Blvd Smith River bottoms until road ends Tell Blvd in the failed Pacific Shores at Tedsen Dairy. Turn L onto Pala Rd subdivision. Go 0.4 mi to 3rd inter- (graveled) to end at a locked gate and section, turn R 0.2 mi to T and turn Lake Earl Dr parking area. L. Bear left at 0.1 and 0.6 mi from The Smith River bottomlands during T and continue straight for 2.4 mi to spring migration offer the spectacle end and park. Lake Tolowa of thousands of Aleutian Cackling Lake Tolowa and Lake Earl comprise the West’s largest coastal lagoon 154 Lake Goose, an Endangered Species Act Earl success story, grazing in the fields. south of Alaska and form the heart Look in trees bordering the pasture- of 11,000 acres of protected land. lands for roosting Great Egret and This is a designated California Im- 155 Great Blue Heron and an occasional portant Bird Area with 300 bird spe- 163 156 cies recorded. On the straightaway Lakeview Dr Bald Eagle. Through the gate to the St George Reef first dune is a good area for White- before the lagoon, look for Northern 8 nautical tailed Kite, Northern Harrier, Ameri- Shrike and American Pipit in winter miles west can Pipit, Horned Lark, and Lapland and Vesper and Savannah Sparrow in summer. Northern Harrier, Short- Longspur. North of the parking area, Lake Earl Dr take the trail towards the river and eared Owl, Horned Lark, and Lap- land Longspur are also seen in this walk the banks to see Common Gold- r D t eneye, Common Merganser, Tundra area. Walk south either via the beach s e 157 r or along the lagoon to Lake Tolowa c Parkway Dr Swan, and gulls in winter. Black- h t r crowned Night-heron often roost on mouth. See American and Pacific o N the opposite shore. A colony of Bank Golden-Plover, Pectoral Sandpiper, West Washington Blvd Wilson’s Snipe, Western Sandpiper, Swallow and all seven species of Pebble Beach Dr swallows including Purple Martin oc- Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, and cur in summer. Western Snowy Plover. Rarities have 158 included Mountain Plover, Upland 159 KFG Sandpiper, Elegant Tern, and Snow Elk Valley Rd Pebble Beach Dr 9th St Sponsor: Alexandre EcoDairy Bunting. A St Farms Front St 161 AEFGH CRESCENT CITY Sponsor: Tolowa Dunes 160 162 Stewards BIRDING TIP OM PHY.C A R Winter storms with G sustained westerly winds G PHOTO R E E B N TUR can push seabirds close to NA R E E CRO L D LL EE shore, but be sure to R A H IS MI O rrySt dress appropriately for : L inclement weather. PHOTO BY: TE PHOTO BY: PHOTO BY PHOTO BY: RIC PHOTO BY: Black Oystercatcher Dark-eyed Junco Wilson'sWarbler 4141 157. Point St. George ing ground. See spectacular fly-offs From Hwy 101 S in Crescent City, at dawn. View the Rock upclose by take Washington Blvd exit W. From charter, see St. George Reef (Pelagic Hwy 101 N take Parkway Dr exit, site) description. turn W on Washington Blvd to Pebble Beach Dr, follow curve to R and park ACEFGHK in any turnout on L, or drive 1.1 mi Sponsor: Aleutian Goose Festival to parking lot. Look northwest to see the St. George Reef Lighthouse built after the wreck of the steamer (Brother Johnathan) in 1865. Find Black-legged Kittiwake, Marbled Murrelet, Rock Sandpiper, Sanderling, Surfbird, Tufted Puffin, Rhinoceros Auklet, Aleutian Cackling Goose, Northern Harrier, Western Meadowlark, American Pipit, Cliff Swallow, Lapland Longspur, and Savannah Sparrow, rarely a Black- N O footed Albatross. At winter’s dusk, NS U R E look for a Short-eared Owl in the N M LL grasslands to the east of the park- DO IS MI ing lot. O AEFG Sponsor: Elk Valley Rancheria PHOTO BY: Allen's Hummingbird PHOTO BY: L PHOTO BY: Bald Eagle 158. Castle Rock National Wildlife Refuge 155. Lake Earl Coastal 156. Lake Earl Coastal From Hwy 101 S in Crescent City, 159. Pebble Beach Drive take Washington Blvd exit W. From From Hwy 101 in Crescent City, go Lagoon Trail Lagoon Boat Launch W on 9th St to Pebble Beach Dr, turn From Hwy 101 at the OR/CA border, From Hwy 101 at the OR/CA border, Hwy 101 N, take Parkway Dr exit, turn W on Washington Blvd and pro- L or R for birding and coastal access drive 10.5 mi S, cross the Smith Riv- drive 10.5 mi S, cross the Smith Riv- (Brother Jonathan Overlook to L, most er, turn R on Lake Earl Dr, and follow er, turn R on Lake Earl Dr and follow ceed to coast turning S or NW to ac- cess pullouts. of Pebble Beach Dr to R). S 4.6 mi to parking lot on R. 5.5 mi S. Turn R on Lakeview Dr and Best birded by car and with a spot- A 1-mile loop trail traverses coastal go 0.8 mi to boat launch.