Northern California with Birds

 

In last week's blog I wrote that we took an in-state trip to celebrate our August birthdays -- I should have written "regional trip" because on that same trip we spent a week on the Northern California coast.  The northern part of that big state just south of where we live still seems like part of the Pacific Northwest.  California changes when you get further south.  

 

Crescent City

We spent a couple of nights on the beach in Crescent City.   We left from Eugene in extremely high temperatures (for Oregon)  and it was even hotter in Ashland but the ocean breezes cooled it down once we crossed the border.    We walked along the rocky shores,  listened to the waves and the birds,  and just relaxed -- we were at the Coast and that's what y0u do. 

 

 

All of the places  on this getaway are "old stomping grounds" and our next familiar stay was in Arcata, one of our favorite places to visit.  We enjoy the laid-back ambience of the area, the good weather -- and the birds.

 

 

Willets

Except for the Crescent City collage, all of the pictures in this post were taken on our walks at Arcata Marsh.  Here is a link to an old post that tells more about the marsh.  

 

 

Mid-August isn't the best time of the year  for birding and California has been in a drought situation for a long time, so we weren't sure what to expect when we got to the marsh.   We were not disappointed.  

 

Brown Pelicans 

The weather was perfect for walking.   It had been quite a while since we'd had a birding day, so I was a happy camper.

 

 

Another older couple passed us going the opposite way on one of the trails.  She said "aren't we the luckiest people in the world to be able to spend a day like this."   I agreed wholeheartedly.  

 

 

A beautiful day at Arcata Marsh!

 

 THANK YOU to the readers who told me about the photo editing programs they  are using to replace our beloved Picassa  -- I used Photoscape for this post and it seems to be working the best  for me so far. 

 

 Thank you to the hosts of the following sharing opportunities:

NATURE NOTES;   MOSAIC MONDAY (HAPPY HOUR WITH PICS);  THROUGH MY LENS;   MY CORNER OF THE WORLD;  WILD BIRD Wednesday;  THANKFUL THURSDAY;   SKYWATCH FRIDAY  and   SATURDAY CRITTERS

 

 

Comments

[A ShutterBug Explores]

Wow! You go the best places and get the best photos ~ thanks,

Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
clm ~ A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

[hena]

You got some lovely photos.

[DeniseinVA]

Hello Sallie, thank you for bringing back a lot of great memories. So good to see familiar sights. I really loved our years living in California, north and south. Thank you for taking us along. Beautiful sights in your photos. Have a wonderful week coming up.

[Lavender Dreams]

I like photoscape too, especially to resize my photos. You had a really nice get away. Our weather has been so hot and now much is flooded but we are going camping this week near by. I love the water birds you saw! Take care!

[Photo Cache]

I have never been to Arcata. I really should plan something next year to visit cities past Eureka.

[Michelle Keltner]

Being able to walk around, at your leisure, and enjoy nature is the luckiest way to spend a day...I think! Thank you for linking up!

[Beatrice]

Belated Happy 🎂to you both, Sallie, and what a great road trip to celebrate the dual celebrations😀The photos of the wildlife were wonderful and reminded me of the many similar shorebirds we used to see in Chincoteague, VA, so thanks for the memories as well.

I am hoping that your FL canal home did not have serious damages from Hurricane Helene and also that you are both safely not there. The news videos I have seen are devastating.

[Anu]

Hello. Wonderful photos of the birds from your trip.

[Breathtaking]

Hello Sallie
It's been too long since I have seen one of your travel posts which I have always enjoyed Sallie.Happy belated birthdays to you and your hubby and what a lovely way to celebrate by visiting old stomping grounds in Crescent City and the Arcata Marsh. Walking along the shore and seeing the Brown Pelicans, Willets and Dowitchers seems like a perfect way to enjoy the great outdoors.
All the best
Sonjia.

[Jenn Jilks]

You have the most marvellous travels!

[Eileen]

Hello, Sallie
I would have been happy too, a beautiful day and some birding on the coast of California. The trip and the birding was a great way to celebrate your birthdays. The birds are all wonderful sightings. I love the Brown Pelicans, Dowitchers and the Willet and I see a Godwit too. Thanks so much for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.

[mae]

Birding in a beautiful place like that looks idyllic… I love your photos.
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com

[Peter B.]

Beautiful photos. I really want to spend some time exploring the N CA coast. I'm born and raised in S CA, but never spent any time in the northern end of the state!

[Shiju Sugunan]

Crescent City and Arcata Marsh look like stunning places to explore! The birds you saw are amazing, especially considering the drought.

[Veronica Lee]

Your trip sounds amazing!
Crescent City and Arcata Marsh seem like perfect spots to relax and enjoy nature.
I love that you still saw plenty of birds despite the drought, and that comment from the woman on the trail is so true—what a gift to spend a day like that!
Your photos turned out great too, Sallie.

[ComfortSpringSt]

Lovely photos - so much to see

[tomthebackroadstraveller]

...Sallie, you found a treasure trove of birds!

[Soma @ InkTorrents.com]

I couldn't agree with you and the other couple more. The area around Crescent City is lovely. Did you go to the redwood parks too? Happy Belated Birthdays!

-Soma

[Traude "Rostrose"]

Dear Sallie, what a beautiful trip with wonderful nature observations. The third picture with the three "synchronous birds" is particularly adorable 😊🥰😍 Really a great way to spend the day (and the time around the birthday) 👍🏻

All the best, Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2024/09/weltreise-2024-sw-usa-roadtrip-teil-1.html

[Gattina]

As usual beautiful pictures ! Your posts are not suitable for cat Rosie, she cross-eyes on the birds ! Today it rains cats and dogs, but it is not so cold. Hopefully next week it will be a bit better ! Now the season (if there are still seasons) which I hate the most has started ! Autumn !!

[// Heidrun]

Sallie, what a lovely journey. Danke für den netten Kommentar. Ich freue mich, dass die Verlinkung nun funktionierte. Woran kann es gelegen haben?

Über den Beitrag zu MosaicMonday freue ich mich wieder sehr, danke dafür. Die Bilder, sind einfach schön. Belated congratulations on your birthdays, together with health, happiness and contentment.

Liebe Grüße von Heidrun

[Dee]

Lovely! This area does seem like avifauna heaven!
I remember driving past Arcata Bay on our way up to Redwood National and State Parks a couple of summers ago.

Thank you for this post, Sallie; the next time we go that side, I'd like to do some walking in the area. :)

[somewhereinireland]

The scenery is beautiful. Wonderful bird sightings too. Have a great day,.

[ellen b.]

Arcata looks like a great spot to enjoy and relax in! I love sea birds. It has been a good while since I walked along a seashore. Oops I take that back we walked along the North Sea last week!!

[Little Wandering Wren]

It's lovely to join you, Sallie, on your wander for your luckiest day out. Happy bird watching!

[Diana]

It sounds like a great trip and it's always good to visit the old stomping grounds :)

[magiceye]

Marvelous captures!

[Yogi's Den]

You saw some great sights!! I've only been to the Oregon coast once and it was wonderful.

[Amy]

oh I recognize California poppies! They grow here in the north island, we mostly get the orange ones.

[Sue Batz]

I truly love your days in No. CA. We haven't been that far up north for quite a while..the old car is a bit too dicy to trust it going that way. It does bring back so many great memories though.
Terrific shots of all the birds and scenery. Enjoy every minute of your time.
Sue of photowannabe

[hena]

Lovely bird photos.

[Life Images by Jill]

Sounds like you enjoyed the birds and your visit. Always good to be out in nature. Enjoy your week. I am joining you at Mosaic Monday.

[Eileen]

Beautiful birds and scenery! Wonderful collection of photos.
Take care, have a great day and happy week ahead.