Cock Robin Island

Eel River Wildlife Area

(map link)

After stopping by the Cannibal Island Unit of the Eel River Wildlife Area, I stopped at the Cock Robin Island Unit, or rather almost to it. The obvious parking spot on the map is the Pedrazzini Boat Launch, which has plenty of unpaved parking just before the very long single lane bridge over the Eel River to the island. That seemed fine to me. I was happier walking across the bridge than driving and it's a hotspot for bird watching on eBird. While the California Department of Fish and Wildlife plans on replanting the Cannibal Island Unit with trees, the Cock Robin Island Unit already has been.

There really is a boat ramp here. The river current can be strong in winter.

I headed for the bridge and across. It seemed solid enough and the railings probably aren't even very old. There weren't a lot of birds out.

The start of a very long one lane bridge.

Down the Eel River to the almost visible mouth.

One bird species seen: a pair of double crested cormorants.

A pool formed from deposits of the heavy load of debris that comes down the Eel River.

Upstream to where the river splits, the larger part of it passing on the other side of Cock Robin Island.

The pavement ends when the road flattens out at the far end of the bridge. There I found another suitable parking area and what may be a built trail. A locked gate sits across it and the path probably gets some regular mowing. To the side, there's the bones of signs that never were.

The initial build of three information signs almost completely overgrown by blackberries.

The trail. There's been some time since it was last mowed, but it's been mowed this year.

Changing from a lining of wild mustard to blackberries, but still well maintained.

The trail split and wrapped around planted trees. So a bit of the forest has been replanted. A little bit more took off south, but quickly turned into a wetland instead of a trail with no good way around to the next part. That part may not be meant to be more trail.

Planted trees, caged and tagged so they won't run away.

There may or may not be trail on the far side of the marsh.

With the water comes frogs.

So I followed the trail back around, finding no other route. I was marveling at the blackberries, which seemed to be entirely native species. Contrasted with all the yellow mustard-like flowers, it was quite surprising. However, the mustard is just next to the trail. Maybe it's come from the mower.

The field beyond the lining of field mustard flowers.

There's enough moisture here to support horsetails.

One of a couple of very hungry caterpillars.

I continued along the road looking for more trail to follow, but found none. There is one more gate, but it was a huge puddle and not much else beyond. At a drier time of year, it would likely allow access to more field.

A yellow-spotted millipede ripples along to the edge.

The road crosses the island, mostly.

Another access point blocked by seasonal wetlands.

A barn to the side. At this point, this (north) side of the road is private.

Past a barn and a pair of houses (one on private property), the road becomes much less. Two deep ruts often full of water (and pollywogs). I wanted to get to the far side of the island and meet the river once more, but I also didn't want wet feet. I didn't make it to the river. A thin path accessed the field south of the road, so I tried that and wandered a little of another large field. It hasn't all been planted with trees.

The road becomes another seasonal wetland.

A similar field to that beside the trail, but without the wall of wild mustard.

The house on the wildlife area side seems to be getting eaten by brambles.

And so I returned without meeting the larger part of the Eel River. There was a family wandering the bridge when I got back. They had parked in the turnout for waiting for oncoming traffic, should there be any. It's not a legal parking spot, but you don't expect enough to come past for it to matter.

Pollywogs in the road puddles. Possibly even of the same sort as the frog above.

*Loleta album*


©2023 Valerie Norton
Written 2 May 2023