Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge
We were on our way to Lake Shasta to spend Christmas with the Husband/Tischer family. Every two years we get together and each time it has been at a different spot. Along the way we took our first detour to have breakfast at Babs Delta Diner in Suisun. To think, this is the second time in ten days!
Our second stop was north of Williams on I5 at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge. Once again, our thanks to Tom Stienstra, who featured this wildlife complex in the San Francisco Chronicle a month ago.
It was a beautiful day, but with a chilly breeze. Must remember though that it is December so colder weather is to be expected. The Sierras were visible off to our right and to the north we could clearly see the peak of Mount Lassen which is in the Lassen Volcanic National Park. What was more exciting though was spotting the tip of Mt Shasta before we even reached Williams. I remember my first trip north on I5 back in 1999. I was on my own and several people had told me to watch out for this volcanic peak. When I approached Shasta Lake I kept my eye peeled for Mt Shasta, assuming it was near the lake. I drove for miles before I actually saw it. And here we were nearly 100 miles from the lake and we could see the top of the mountain.
At Exit 595 we turned off on CR 68. Turning left on Highway 99W, we drove 1.5 miles to the entrance of the Sacramento NWR. Just inside the entrance, we pulled in to pay the fee of $3 at the pay machine. A sign saying ‘Visitors’ pointed to the right and the start of the the 6 mile autotour was just ahead.
The road was gravelly and narrow and soon we were passing reeds and small lakes. Along the way were several signs telling us to drive slowly – 20 mph is the speed limit. We spotted our first birds – American Coots or Common Moorhen. The only way I can tell the difference between them is by the color of their feet.
Ahead of us a car was stopped so we pulled up and waited as well because we couldn’t get by. The passenger was taking photos and he had an enormous lens. Tom was instantly jealous. When they moved off we took their place but moved over so that other cars could pass. Officially the only stopping places are the designated Park and Stretch areas. Today it is very quiet with not too many cars around. Tom got some good shots of the birds with Mr Lassen in the background. Suddenly a mass of birds took flight at the same time and hopefully Tom managed to catch them.
I glanced out of of my window to the right and spotted a coyote a couple of hundred yards away. At first I thought it was a dog but when I looked through the binoculars I saw its tail and knew it was a coyote. A little later I saw another one, this time much closer but lost sight of it when some tall reeds got in the way.
Further on we saw a hawk like bird but I could not identify it. It was very dark with a white band at the base of its tail. It swooped and glided close the ground and we could not see what color the underparts were. Could it have been an osprey? Somehow I doubt it.
We came to the first Park and Stretch area. Here we could get out of the car and walk onto a wooden platform. At the top there were a couple of scopes through which it was possible to get a better view of the birds but there were not too many to see at this spot. Tom spotted another photographer with a large lens. This one was camouflaged and on a stand attached to the car window. Tom felt his lens was inferior. Never mind darling, you get great photos.
Further on we saw thousands of Snow Geese – or they could have been Ross’ Geese. There were some morphs amongst them. In the far distance
Sundial Bridge in Redding
near I5 we could see a large flock of white birds take flight. That’s when a large lens would be invaluable.
All too soon the auto tour was over and we were back on I5 head for Redding. Our detour via the Sacramento NWR was a great treat. Next time Tom said he would rent a large lens for the visit.
Christmas with the family at Shasta Lake was good fun. The house we rented was not quite what we expected but the deck and view were spectacular. One fly in the ointment – we had no water at all from 6 pm on Christmas Eve to 3 pm on Christmas Day. Things were a bit difficult with 12 people in the house and a baby but we coped somehow. The problem was caused by a mouse chewing through insulation and a wire on the pressure pump.
We had three expeditions while we were there. One to the Sundial Bridge (awesome), the second to the ‘Poop Scoop exhibition at the Turtle Bay Exploration Park (fascinating) and the last to the McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens (interesting) – all in Redding.
Related posts:
- Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge
- Alviso – Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge
- Road Trip – Day 16 – Klamath Falls to San Jose
- Upcoming Plans
- Pinnacles National Monument
January 22 2010 07:43 am | Special Places
