Road Trip Day 2: Eureka to Coos Bay, Oregon
Unfortunately for us, it had been sunny and balmy for some time, but on this day it became cloudy and sometime rainy. The day before we pushed on to Eureka, which is just a short drive away from Redwood National Park, so we spent most of our time there. We made our first stop inside the national park at the beach across the road from Freshwater Lagoon. It was overcast and the scenery pictures did not turn out too well, but it was a good place to see some seabirds. I saw cormorants, murres, terns and gulls, even a Rhinoceros Auklet (a new bird and a rather rare encounter for me), as well as this Willet. (Click on each image to see the high-resolution version)
But of course one cannot go to Redwood National Park without seeing the towering redwoods. We drove into the park and took the trail in Lady Bird Johnson Grove. As we walked, the sky darkened and the fog -- the most famous and nourishing Pacific Coast fog -- rolled in. We got a little wet, but it was a wonderful experience to see these giants of the plant kingdom.
But for me, the highlight came at near Trillium Falls Trail (we did not actually take the trail, having been so pressed with time): there were so many birds there I almost lost count. I easily registered several new birds, and had I been there even 15 minutes longer, no doubt I would have gotten several more.
Then the weather really worsened. In the rain we crossed the state line and entered Oregon.
Willet
Redwoods
Redwoods
Redwoods
White-crowned Sparrow
Wilson's Warbler
Western Wood Pewee
Allen's Hummingbird
