California with emphasis of Giant Redwoods (1 Viewer)

albatross02 · Jan 31, 2008

Hello,

which is the best time for birdwatching in California.
I am most interesting in Giant Redwoods ( e.g. Yosemite, Redwoods NP and so on ).
Suppose best place for start is from airport in San Francisco ?

Which is the best time and which places are recommended for bird watching.
I will travel with car + tent.

Best regards
Dieter

jcwings · Jan 31, 2008

The redwoods can be visited anytime as they are coastal and the birding along the coast is good anytime, except maybe early summer when most migrants have departed. Generally speaking the redwoods aren't very birdy, but the California coast is worth travelling through where there are many species you can look at. On the other hand, Yosemite is best in early summer when breeding birds are present and the weather is favorable. The higher elevations in Yosemite (i.e. Tioga Pass) are closed until summer when the roads are reopened after the winter season. Summer comes late in the higher elevations of Yosemite so visitors are kept out until the pass can be reopened. Be sure to check the National Park seasonal closures. By contrast the Yosemite Valley floor is spectacular in scenery and bird life in summer and open almost all year. Fall is good too but many breeding birds are gone. Fall is probably the best season for birds on the coast.

Chris D · Jan 31, 2008

Might want to also check out Sequoia and King's Canyon parks. Though it's "Yosemite" class glacial valley (Cedar Grove) doesn't match Yosemite Park's, it's much less crowded and has larger, wilder sequoia groves. Yosemite is a great park - but you might be alone in Redwood Canyon (5000 acres of sequoias) in King's Park. Just a thought.....

albatross02 · Feb 1, 2008

Hello,

thank You for the informations.
Kings Canyon sounds really good.
It said there are lots of people in Yosemite and reservation is needed ?

Which time is not too much frequented ?
My idea is June or September.
Maybe Mai is to early for camping ?
I prefer a little bit warmer climate like 25 centigrad on day an 15 centigrad during night or higher.
But for cool nights excellent sleeping are available in California.
Western Mountaineering is the top brand.
But this costs e.g. WM Apache 350 U$ in US or 380 Euro in Germany ( and maybe the same in England ).

Best regards
Dieter

Chris D · Feb 1, 2008

Hi Dieter. For birds I would suggest later in May or June. Both Sequoia King's Canyon and Yosemite have excellent websites. Being that they are National Parks - both have extensive campgrounds and such. I worked in Sequoia/Kings for many years but know Yosemite from dozens of visits.

As for Redwoods - I would suggest going north of SanFrancisco to Redwood National Park --- specifically the Praire Creek section. Best of the Redwoods and a high incidence of "Big Foot" sitings - for those who believe in things like that.

Back to Sequoia. There are many places (campgrounds) to stay in Sequoia/Kings that will put you at different altitudes. It'll be hard to get to the alpine regions regardless-- it being too early. Cedar Grove is a large granitic glacial valley at 4500 feet. Grant Grove and Giant Forest are mixed conifer and Sequoia at 5500 - 7500 feet. Potwisha Campground is foothills. You can see 10 species of woodpeckers.

Please don't spend 350 smackers on a sleeping bag. Rent a small car and just car-camp. I'd also recommend stopping in the Grant Grove Ranger Station and getting a permit for Redwood Canyon. All you need is a small tent, sleeping bag, and some food. Put these in your back pack and go. It's 5000 acres of birds, bears, and sequoias. Rarely visited. This and the other areas will all be in any book about Sequoia Park.

One last thing. If you do go to Sequoia - make sure you drive south and visit the Kern Preserve. It's 400 species of birds. May June is perfect.

You could honestly - get off the plane, hire a small car, go to the 1st Walmart (sorry) you see and purchase a backpack, tent, and sleeping bag. All for much less than 300 dollars total. It's America. We have too much of everything - including Walmarts. Hope this helps...........chris

JohnJos · Feb 1, 2008

Would Muir Woods and that area have good birding? Nice redwoods. I was there several years ago before I became a birder.

Yosemite is certainly a great place. I was there in June 2004. It was a bit crowded and we did make reservations for camping well in advance. Saw my first and only Stellar Jay there while climbing up Yosemite Falls.

albatross02 · Feb 6, 2008

Hello,

thank You for all informations.
10 different kind of woodpeckers sounds great, we have only 7 ( but I saw only 4 of them clearly, last weekend 8 x Great Spotted Woodpecker ).
I like to travel very often with tent and sleeping bag.
My tent ( North Face Starburst ) is now after 12 years at the company for repairing.
Sleeping bag I already have one for summer ( until 15 centigrad ), one for mountain expeditions ( Western Mountaineering Puma SDL ) and one until freeze temperatures from TNF.
Last one is not so good and heavy, so I have to buy a small one with low wight ( also for weekend alpine tours ).

Best regards
Dieter

Gentoo · Feb 6, 2008

Redwood forest are awesome if there are some other trees mixed in with them. Some of the state parks just north of San Francisco are great in May and June. Samuel P. Taylor Park is a good place to start. There were Steller's Jays, Acorn Woodpeckers, Nesting Crows and quite a few birds of prey there. From here, you're not far from Stinson Beach and Point Reyes National Seashore but these may be better for birding during the winter.

If you're in Southern California, check out the mountains. In San Diego County, check out Mt. Laguna recreation area and Palomat Mountain. I've not done any birding in Riverside county. In San Bernardino Co. You should head up to the San Bernardino Mountains and in Los Angeles County, the San Gabriel Mountains are great. You don't necessarily need to hit all of these mountains, it's just that if you're ever in one of these areas, those would be the places to go.

From October till about April, the Salton Sea is one of the best places on the planet for birding! Stay away from there in the summer, not only are the numbers of birds far fewer but the heat might kill you!

gvca1 · Feb 8, 2008

Two different trees

Reading these replies, I noticed some confusion about redwoods. There are two different trees in California: the Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), and the Giant Sequoia, (Sequoiadendron Gigantea).

The Coast Redwood is found along the coast range right down to the sea from the Oregon border down to Monterey County, south of San Francisco.

The Giant Sequoia, on the other hand, is found around 4000 ft elevation in the Sierra Nevada. This is the tree you will find in Yosemite, Kings Canyon, etc.

So the two Redwoods are hundreds of miles apart, separated by the Sacramento Valley.

They are in completely different ecosystems. Both are spectacular and worth a visit. As to the birds you might find there, they will also be quite different, but you'll have to rely on somebody else for those details, since I know more about the trees than the birds. I'm a newbie bird watcher.

Enjoy your trip, and check out BOTH redwoods if you can,

Jim

Chris D · Feb 8, 2008

Yes indeed. Notice also that both trees aren't even the same genus. There are great differences in both forests. One note - 4000 feet for the Giant Sequoia is kinda' near a lower limit. The "Heart" of it's elevational range gets higher as you get south. 6 to 7000 feet is best...........chris

gvca1 · Feb 9, 2008

Yes, Chris-- thanks for the clarification. What I meant to say was, "starting at 4000 ft or so..." Here's a link that shows the distribution pretty well:

http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/sequoias_of_yosemite/distribution.html

Jim

albatross02 · May 21, 2008

Hello,

I will be in LA at 8.06. and flight back 3 weeks later from San Francisco.
Is there someone birding in this area too ?

Best regards
Dieter

wings · Jul 25, 2008

albatross02 said:
Hello,

I will be in LA at 8.06. and flight back 3 weeks later from San Francisco.
Is there someone birding in this area too ?

Best regards
Dieter

___________------

Hi Dieter,

Is that August 6 or 8 June? We Americans type the month first, so I assume you are arriving in L.A. on August 6. If you come to San Francisco, there's rerdwood trees just across from the Golden Gate bridge (Muir Woods). Bolinas Lagoon and Bodega Bay (60 miles north of SF) are two good places for shorebirds.

Dennis

joannec · Jul 25, 2008

gvca1 is absolutely right about the two species of redwoods. I grew up in Northern California and Muir Woods and Samuel Tayor State Park were my playgrounds. The coastal species can be found throughout northern and central coastal areas. For redwoods and fantastic birding I recommend Monterey Bay. I was there last summer and wrote about my trip in the following thread, especially posts 18,27 and 36.

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=94046

Coastal redwoods can be found in the Santa Cruz area at the north end of Monterey Bay , also the Big Sur area, south of Monterey Bay. You could even get lucky with a California condor around Big Sur.

Joanne

wings · Jul 28, 2008

I agree with Joanne. And yes, Monterey Bay is a great birding destination, in addition to other marine life.

albatross02 · Jul 31, 2008

California

Hello,

thank You very much for all advises.
I was there in June, please find my report enclosed.

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=119098

There is a lot of differenences.
08.06.2008 means 8. June 2008 in Germany, sorry for this confusing.
This time I started preparing to late, next year it will be better.

Best regards
Dieter

albatross02 · Jul 31, 2008

Kings Canyon

Kings Canyon
spectacular landscapes and wildlife

albatross02 · Jul 31, 2008

Sequoia

Of course Sequoia

albatross02 · Aug 1, 2008

Birdlife

wings · Aug 4, 2008

Glad you had a great time.

California with emphasis of Giant Redwoods (1 Viewer)

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