Bodega Bay is a great place to observe birds of the Pacific Coast. Doran Park has a large variety of birds available for viewing. Doran Park is located one mile south of Bodega Bay just past the entrance to the Bodega Harbour development and golf course.
The park address is 201 Doran Beach Road. Day use fees are six dollars.
The park extends from the coast highway along a sand spit of land with the outer harbor on the south side and the inner harbor on the north side. The majority of the bird life can be found on the north side of park, although some birds frequent the surf area on the south beach. The park has bathrooms and a beach wheel chair is also available upon request.
Some of the birds that frequent the park and harbor area include gulls, pelicans, scoters, terns, murres, plovers and rails. Cormorants and even Canada Geese are often viewed here.
For those who don't mind the drive the Point Reyes National Seashore features a vast saltwater marsh and mudflat area located at Drake's Estero. There are many migratory birds located here during the winter months. According to the Audubon Society the headlands and off shore rocks are very important to a diverse nesting group of seabirds including Ashy Storm-Petrel, Rhinoceros Auklet and Tufted Puffin. The birds are located near Bird Rock and offshore rocks within Drake's Bay.
The sandy beaches in the area host nesting Snowy Plover along North Beach and Limantour Spit. There are also nesting egrets in the trees located near the Audubon Society location.
For more information visit the Audubon.org web site.
For lodging near Bodega Bay there are several hotels including "The Inn at the Tides", Bodega Bay Inn and Bodega Coast Inn and Suites. Another option is to stay at a vacation rental in the area. A favorite one is located close to Doran Beach with a nice view of the beach and ocean.
Visit luxurybodega.com for more information.
keywords: bird watching in bodega bay, bird watching in sonoma county, bird watching and hiking near san francisco, jenner, wine country
