You Mon Tsang December 23rd, 2011
Winter is a great time to visit Point Reyes and one of the major reasons is whale watching. The gray whales migrate past and the elephant seals return to the Point Reyes Headlands. Check the video below for a terrific video of some lucky individuals who saw some whales. But please note that lots of visitors coming Point Reyes means that the Park Service will start their shuttle service.
From the NPS site.
Starting on Dec 31, 2011, bus service is provided Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from Drakes Beach directly to the lighthouse parking lot. Visitors can disembark for whale watching and wildflowers, or they may continue on to Chimney Rock for hiking and seal watching.
You Mon Tsang December 15th, 2010
Marin Mommies has a good overview of whale watching at Point Reyes:
Probably the best place to see the whale migration is at the Point Reyes Lighthouse, since it’s at the point where the Point Reyes Peninsula juts farthest into the Pacific Ocean. Chimney Rock, on the opposite side of the ridge from the lighthouse, is another good place to observe. Due to the popularity of these spots, the Park Service operates a winter shuttle bus program in the area on weekends and holidays starting the last Saturday in December through mid April. …
Whales aren’t the only large migratory marine mammals to be seen out at Point Reyes. Over the past few years, the Point Reyes peninsula has become home to a sizeable population of Northern Elephant Seals (mirounga angustirostris). These huge seals can be found camped out on beaches around the area, particularly in and around Chimney Rock.
You Mon Tsang December 12th, 2009
As winter arrives, we’ll be seeing the Northern elephant seals (lounging in certain areas) and Pacific gray whales (migrating past the peninsula) return to the Point Reyes area. This wildlife also brings lots of visitors and the return of the shuttle bus system that takes folks out to Chimney Rock and the Lighthouse. The shuttle system will begin Saturday, December 26, 2009 and run through mid-April 2010. More from the Park Service.
Limited parking is available at prime viewing areas such as the Historic Lighthouse and Chimney Rock headlands. Bus service eases congestion in these areas and reduces green house gas emissions. The shuttle transportation system was identified in the Headlands Management Plan as an important tool to protect the fragile headlands but also allow access for visitors.
Bus service runs only on weekends and holidays in good weather. Ticket sales open at 9:00 a.m. at the Ken Patrick Visitor Center at Drakes Beach and close at 3:00 p.m. Children 16 and under are free, adult tickets are $5.00 per person and Federal Senior and Access pass discounts apply to the purchase. Sir Francis Drake Highway is closed at the South Beach junction when the busses are operating. Road closures begin at 9:00 a.m. and the road reopens approximately at 5:15 p.m. For more information, please call the Bear Valley Visitor Center at (415) 464-5100 x2 x5 or visit our Winter Shuttle Bus System page.
You Mon Tsang April 23rd, 2009
What’s happening in the park in late April 2009.
- The rains means more wildflowers! Chimney Rock is in peak condition, with the yellow Indian Paintbrush coming in. The pastures at Bear Valley are purple with tiny Sky Lupines. There are rumors of dogwood flowering on Bear Valley Trail.
- Poison Oak is also enjoying a banner year – leaves of three let it be – it can be a shrub or a climbing vine. Also, I teach my son “If it’s shiny, watch your hiney.”
- Last of the grey whales moving north, the third phase of the annual movement is the mother and calf pairs passing the Lighthouse; a couple of pairs have been seen each day over the past week.
- The first string enclosures to protect snowy plover nests are being put up on the Great Beach; nesting activities have been observed, so far, no eggs.
These are highlights from the National Park Service Park Wavelengths newsletter. Photo by Pat Ulrich.
You Mon Tsang March 25th, 2009
What’s happening in the park in late March 2009.
- Sounds like whale watching can be real hit or miss: “one day 5-10 per hour – the next day fog and wind and no whales to been seen! On calm days, excellent viewing from the Lighthouse area but with recent winds and fogs, numbers have been low. They will continue northward throughout April.”
- Look for large displays of purple Douglas Iris at the Estero Trail head, spikes of creamy yellow ‘Red Elderberry’ along the roadsides, Chocolate Lilies (fritillaries) at the Peter Behr Overlook at Drakes Beach, and tiny lavender Ceanothus blooms are bursting on these dark green shrubs.
These are highlights from the National Park Service Park Wavelengths newsletter.
You Mon Tsang March 10th, 2009
What’s happening in the park in early March 2009.
Northern migrating gray whales are moving past the Lighthouse and Chimney Rock in large numbers – up to 10 an hour seen over the weekend days helped by the warm calm weather.
Elephant seal numbers continue to decline though a large bull parked himself in front of the visitor center at Drakes Beach much of Saturday afternoon. Females have begun returning to feeding areas near Hawaii and males to feeding areas near Alaska. The weaned pups linger on though early summer.
A public information session on the Abbots Lagoon Dune Restoration project is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11 at 6:30 in the Red Barn Classroom.
A new photography show at Bear Valley Visitor Center of wildlife images from the park by Galen Leeds is up through April.
These are highlights from the National Park Service Park Wavelengths newsletter:
You Mon Tsang October 8th, 2008
Here are some highlights from the National Park Service Park Wavelengths newsletter:
- Young elephant seals have made an early appearance at Chimney Rock ; about 40 sub-adults (rowdy teenagers!) are on the beach practicing their wrestling and noisemaking skills in preparation for the winter breeding season
- Humpback whale sightings off Limantour and Agate Beaches continue to delight visitors. Look for their long curved fin and tails with white underneath to distinguish them.
- Hikers and Bikers especially on the Bolinas Ridge Trail should be watchful of the beef cattle calving season; cows are very defensive of their calves and may stare and or approach if they feel threatened.
- Numerous warblers are resting in the trees at the Fish Docks after last weekends storm – prothonotary, black polled, yellow rumped, and palm with a Downy woodpecker in the mix.
You Mon Tsang September 9th, 2008
The 9/9/2008 Park Wavelengths newsletter points out that the recent warm weather means you may be able to catch breaching minke and humpback whales, dolphins, and porpoises from Limantour Beach. Get out there! Here is the rest of the newsletter:
The full moon rises on September 15 at 2:13 am. This moon brings some very high afternoon daylight tides between 5.7 and 6.3 feet so plan beach excursions early in the day. The autumnal equinox follows on the next Monday, August 22nd as we begin to lose a few moments of daylight each day.
Warm weather had created excellent marine mammal viewing from Limantour Beach. Breaching minke and humpback whales, dolphins, and porpoises were observed across the weekend from the beach along with many loons and common murres. It is possible some type of ‘bloom’ of food associated with warmer water temperatures is drawing in the feasting crowds although we often see humpbacks and blues at this time of year. Large numbers of Sooty Shearwaters are feeding off Abbots Lagoon. On Tomales Bay, a die off of moon jellies has washed in many blobs of clear jelly with the trademark white crescents. These are a favorite food for sea turtles. Unfortunately, plastic bags in the water can mimic the drifting jellies and are eaten by turtles. The indigestible bags block absorption of nutrients and food and can cause malnutrition and death for the turtles. A reminder, the brown colored Lions Mane jellies can cause an allergic reaction if you brush against; a sting was reported from Drakes Beach last Saturday. Avoid them on the beach!
Snowy Plovers hung in there this year, final numbers approximately 16% survival rate; 33 birds hatched and five fledged. Some of the nesting area was disturbed by clean up for a shipwreck that washed ashore at Kehoe Beach; cautious Dad Plover managed to shield the last three from this disturbance.
Excellent year for berries all round, the latest fruit is Blue Elderberry, large dusky dark purple-blue clusters are draped over Bear Valley Road and Sir Francis Drake Boulevard especially in the San Geronimo Valley. Buckeye nut pods are appearing as the leaves are dropped, the green balls can be seen on the trees.
Coastal Clean Up Day is coming up on Saturday, September 20th. Meet at Limantour Beach at 9:30 am to clean up trash and enjoy the day.
A permit has been issued for September 14th for the annual “Piper On the Ridge” event on Mount Vision Road; The annual event features a bagpiper greeting the rising full moon and begins approximately 7:00 pm. Free, but no dogs permitted: check on whether extreme fire danger may close the road.
PG + E will be working in the pastures off North Beach for the next few weeks, restringing lines over the fields; no affect on services or traffic is expected.
You Mon Tsang January 19th, 2008
Turns out there is plenty to do in January in Point Reyes. On a nice, sunny day, the beaches and hikes are as pleasant as ever. Just bring another layer and get started a little earlier. Once the sun goes down early, it can get chilly.
But January also brings unique opportunities for those of us who want to see wildlife.
* Whale Watching from the Lighthouse and Chimney Rock. This is a popular enough event that the Park Service closes the road to the lighthouse point and runs buses from the Drakes Beach Visitors Center ($5 per person). While I have not ever caught site of a whale on these trips, I still enjoy the trip out to the point. The Park Service has a good page on whale watching from the point.
* Breeding Elephant Seals. I like to head out to Chimney Rock to watch the wales, because it is also possible that the elephant seals are on the beach hanging out and breeding. This year, they are out en masse! They are fun to watch as they lie and shift around in the sun. From the Chimney Rock parking lot, look for signs that direct you on a short trail heading south.
* Salmon Run. From mid-Dec to mid-January (over for 2008), SPAWN lead groups from the town of Lagunitas to find salmon that swam upstream and lay their eggs. The whole process is fascinating and newbies should take the tour as it can be difficult to find the salmon without an experienced eye. You can find out more at the SPAWN web site.
Photo taken by flauto
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