Shorebird Loop

Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge

(Map link.)

It can be sunny on the coast if you time it just right. I went for a sunny round on the Shorebird Loop in the Salmon Creek Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The parking lot is open, but when going for that brief window of sun in the afternoon, it is important to realize that they close at 5PM. It is tempting to think sunset or up to an hour after like practically everything else with gates, but that is not the case. In summer, it's also important to notice the actual time because the sun is still very high at 5PM.

The trail starts on the boardwalk at the visitor center where signs helpfully note that the gate closes at 5PM and this is a tsunami hazard area.

The have an otter on display until September. The visitor center is still closed, but it's by a window so everyone can admire one side of the art.

I headed out pondering the wet areas and the birds. The migrating ones that spend so much time sitting on that water have gone, but there are still various birds to be seen. Some of them are a bit more interesting in their actions, too.

No geese are out grazing the fields. There's just hay bales drying in the sun.

A great egret strides through the duckweed, hunting.

I stopped for a while at the spaces provided to watch birds. There's not much to see, but there were swallows. They are really something to watch. I made a feeble attempt to catch them at their work with the camera.

Cattails grow enthusiastically.

A swallow, or at least an impression of dark brown, with blue iridescence, zipping by grabbing insects from over the water.

I gave up and started moving again, finally taking a look at the time. I had less than an hour, which should be enough unless I kept stopping to see if the swallows will cooperate. The loop is only about 1.6 miles total.

Another great egret stalks what fish may be found.

Spears of dull red are some sort of dock.

One of the ponds looking quite low on water.

I made my way along the spur to the wooden overlook of Salmon Creek. It is the only height to be gained for some distance.

Not much to Salmon Creek and certainly no salmon visible.

Table Bluff across Hookton Slough is the closest land with height.

I swung around the west end of the loop, checking on the shapes of the remains of the lands that were built up and dredged by those who arrived and determined that they should change the land.

Salmon Creek finds the more open water, sort of. Out into Humboldt Bay.

I expect the specs on this built up land are cormorants. There's a long line of them just a little too far off to see.

A little bit of the tools that were used to change the land.

The only great blue heron of the day was in flight.

Another great egret, but perched and preening.

Then I turned back. I made another attempt to catch those swishing swallows in flight, but got even less out of it than before. They're more fun to just watch.

More random little ponds.

A rabbit paused long enough for a picture among the buttercups.

I still had ten minutes to get down the long road, over the three jarring speed bumps, before the gate would be locked.

*photo album*




©2021 Valerie Norton
Written 6 Aug 2021