If you haven’t taken a walk on the beaches and pathways that surround the Pajaro Dunes development, now is the time! The shorebirds on the beach and the ducks and waders in the river are in breeding plumage and strutting their stuff. I saw over 30 American Avocets in the river yesterday with numerous Buffleheads, Goldeneyes, Yellowlegs, Curlews, Comorants, Egrets, Black Necked Stilts, and other great birds. I also watched 4 snowy plovers frolic near the water with their colorful leg bands assuring me they were indeed the endangered plovers.
The Friends of the Pajaro Dunes have installed and updated their visitor centers. You can learn more at their excellent website. Stop by at either development (at the end of Beach Street in Watsonville, near Palm Beach State Park) and check out the interactive displays and great nature brochures.
If you park at the end of Beach Street you can walk to the visitor center across the street to the south, and then along River Road toward Moss Landing. Stay close to the small river on your left and check out the various ponds as you walk toward the end of the road. The road ends in a circular parking area with a bench on the left overlooking the small river. This is a great place to watch the birds. Now that you’ve come this far, walk through the housing complex on a path to the beach. This beach is a snowy plover nesting area and much of the year you will be limited in the areas you can walk. However, you will always be able to traverse the one mile or so out to the mouth of the Pajaro River. The river mouth is currently flowing toward to Moss Landing and is about a mile on the beach.
If you walk the entire distance, River Road and the beach walk out to the river mouth, your roundtrip distance is approximately 5 miles. You’ll want to stop and watch the birds so plan on spending several hours.
For those of you who do not live in the area, you’ll see these miles of interesting beaches and river habitats when you sign up to Walk the Bay! I’m always happy to walk this area with any of you who want to see and identify the birds. Just ask!