Natural History Wanderings

There are many reasons to go to Point Reyes.  Ocean views, beaches, hiking, wildflowers, birding, elephant seals and whales are among the most popular.  Official Park  site: http://www.nps.gov/pore/index.htm

It is currently wildflower season.  Two of my favorite areas are Abbot’s Lagoon and Chimney Rock.  Check  previous posts on these areas for more information: https://sandysteinman.wordpress.com/2010/03/27/abbotts-lagoon-at-chimney-rock/ ;  https://sandysteinman.wordpress.com/2010/03/22/a-windy-day-at-point-reyes/ and https://sandysteinman.wordpress.com/2010/03/29/chimney-rock-flower-whale-update/

Good sources of  Wildflower information are the park site: http://www.nps.gov/pore/naturescience/wildflowers.htm and Marin County Native Plants Society:  http://www.marin.edu/cnps/

Now is time for whale watching: http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/wildlife viewing whales.htm

Shuttle Alert Whale Watchers and Chimney Rock hikers on Saturday and Sunday you cannot drive to Chimney Rock and the Lighthouse areas during peak wildflower and whale seasons.  Between 9 AM and 5:15 PM you must park at South Beach and take the shuttle out.

Be aware there is plenty of poison oak at Pt. Reyes.  It is illegal to pick flowers or collect plants or any other natural objects in the national seashore.

Pt. Reyes one of the top birding areas in the U.S.   It has a many habitats and a large number of species visit or are residents at the park.

For information on birding locations: http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/wildlife_viewing_birds.htm

Birds of Point Reyes Species list: http://www.nps.gov/pore/naturescience/upload/animalspecieslist_bird.pdf

The Point Reyes Birding festival is coming April 23, 24, 25 and 26.   If you are interested check it out right away as many events are already full. http://www.pointreyesbirdingfestival.org/site/

It is also the home of the Point Reyes Bird Observatory http://www.prbo.org/cms/index.php

Two more species of interest :

• Tule elk: http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/wildlife_viewing_tuleelk.htm and
• Elephant seals: http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/wildlife_viewing_elephantseals.htm

Point Reyes National Seashore Association (PRNSA) offers the Pt.Reyes Field Seminars. Seminar topics include the natural world, birds, photography, and arts.  They also offer programs for families and educators. http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/wildlife_viewing_whales.htm

Useful books and checklists (all are probably available at the Visitor’s Center) :

• Flowers of Point Reyes National Seashore by Roxanna Ferris (General Flower book of Pt. Reyes)
• Natural History of Pt. Reyes Peninsula by Jules Evens (covers all areas of Natural History)
• Marin Flora by John Thomas Howell, Frank Almeda,Wilma Follette, and Catherine Best (Complete Flora of entire Marin County)
• Pt. Reyes National Seashore: A Hiking and Nature Guide by Don and Kay Martin (hiking guide that includes good basic nature information)
• Plant Checklist for Pt. Reyes National Seashore
• Butterfly Checklist for Pt. Reyes National Seashore and North District Golden Gate National Recreation Area
• Checklist of Birds for Pt. Reyes National Seashore

Two more stops you might want to consider are:

• Bovine Bakery in Pt. Reyes Station for great homemade baked goods and coffee before or after venture out.
• Mostly Natives Nursery in Tomales, which is 17 miles north of Pt. Reyes Station on HIghway One or about 20 minutes.  Like the name says it is a mostly but not exclusively native plants nursery. www.mostlynatives.com/

For information on lodgings check the West Marin Chamber Of Commerce Site: http://www.pointreyes.org/west_marin_point_reyes_lodging.html

Related articles

• Pt. Reyes: Wildflowers, Birds & Elephant Seals April 7 & 8 – Updated (naturalhistorywanderings.com)