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Long-billed Curlew by Vinayak Hebbagil
Moss Landing State Beach
Moss Landing, the town in the north-side of Monterey county, is a great place to view birds that utilize mudflats as well as those that are by the coast. We will start our birding from Jetty road which allows us to look into Elkhorn Slough and the area is home to a variety of shorebirds such as Willets, Marbled Godwits, Black bellied Plovers, Semipalmated Plovers and more. At this time of year, both Wilson’s and Red-necked Phalaropes are most likely present. Additionally, we will be on the look-out for various species of gulls and terns in the channel, as well as Common Murre and Pigeon Guillemot. We'll then walk along the Moss Landing State beach shore, to look for sandpipers, plovers, sanderling, scoters, grebes, loons and cormorants. We should see many California Brown Pelicans too. These areas are also home to Harbor Seals and Sea Otters so we will keep an eye for them too! At this time of year often the Humpback Whales can be seen from shore. Occasionally huge flocks of Sooty Shearwater can be seen feeding off the coast.
Trip Difficulty: 2 miles, little or no elevation gain, most of the trail will be paved pathway along Jetty Road, though it will be sandy on the beach
Leaders: Howard Friedman (408) 806-6772 and Dan Bloch (650) 862-2178
Beginner Friendly
Meet: First parking area on Jetty Road
Directions: From Highway 1 South, take Jetty Road on the right, proceed into the park, and find parking at any of the pullouts. We will meet at the first parking area near the signage by the dunes. This is where the park road has a bend in it. Latitude/Longitude: 36.815866, -121.790043
Facilities: porta-potty
Parking Type and Fees: Free parking, use one of the several pull-offs/parking areas on Jetty Road
Questions? Email general questions to fieldtrips@scvas.org or contact the trip leader for questions regarding the event.