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Tag Archives | Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary

North Spit Jetty and Arcata Marsh

By on September 29, 2025 in

THIS OUTING HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN

Big Day Birding Adventure – to see birds of our Northern California Coast

Our Big Day Events outside of Shasta County is a great chance to see birds that are not typically seen in our immediate area. This is also an opportunity for migrants and variants that travel the coastal route during the fall migration as we visit the North Spit Jetty, Arcata Marsh, and everything in between.
Our predawn departure will start at 5:30 am sharp. We will all meet prior to departing at the Civic Center Auditorium Parking Area at the Monolith Section for a group caravan from Redding to our first destination of North Spit Jetty. We will make one planned rest stop near Willow Creek.
Humboldt Bay–North Spit Jetty: (Weather permitting) 9:00 am, is our estimated arrival time to the unique location to view shore and surf birds. We will tour the jetty and beaches for 3 hours, eat our lunch, and then head towards Arcata Marsh with some stops along the way.
Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary: 1:00 pm is our estimated arrival time There will be plenty of opportunity to stretch our legs by walking the trails or take a short drive to viewing areas of the marsh at the sanctuary. The high tide is 2:15 pm for our planned visit. Our estimated departure time from the Marsh is 4:00 pm. We will look for somewhere to grab a meal with possible drive through access.
Carpooling is highly recommended. Contact me by email with a message in the subject line ‘Arcata Carpooling’ if you are interested in going and can provide a ride or need a ride. We will do our best to match riders together with drivers, but there is no guarantee. Please pack a lunch, plenty of snacks, comfortable footwear, extra socks, full water container, sunscreen, insect repellant, and your field optics. 

We estimate a return back to Redding between 7:30 – 8:00 pm.
Contact info: danbye56@gmail.com

Arcata Marsh/Bottoms and North Spit Jetty at Humboldt Bay

By on April 3, 2025 in

Join trip leaders Larry Jordan and Dan Greaney for an all day birding adventure – to see birds of our Northern California Coast!

Brant, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, Black Oystercatcher, Marbled Godwit, Wandering Tattler, Black Turnstone, Surfbird, Sanderling, and Rock Sandpiper are all birds that are not typically seen in our immediate area. These and other birds are possibilities to witness when you visit Arcata Marsh and the North Spit Jetty at Humboldt Bay.
This event is one week after Godwit Days, but we are confident there will still be birds in the area to see on our own. Our chapter has not had a field trip to the Arcata/Humboldt Bay since covid, and we are hoping to make this one of our best trips for the season.
Our predawn departure will start at 5:30 am sharp. We will all meet prior to departing at the Turtle Bay Monolith Parking Lot for a group caravan from Redding directly to Arcata Marsh. We will make one planned rest stop before our first destination, near Willow Creek.
Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary: 8:30 am is our estimated arrival time. There will be plenty of opportunity to stretch our legs by walking the trails at the sanctuary for approx. 2 ½ – 3 hours.
We will then have a quick lunch break before we start our drive through the Arcata Bottoms on Old Samoa Rd. This section of road is narrow with limited room for parking. We will drive slow as we search for birds at every vantage point, but for only one-hour or less on this roadway. Then we head straight to our next destination.
Humboldt Bay–North Spit Jetty: 1:00 pm is our estimated arrival time to the very unique location to view shore and surf birds. We will play here for an estimated 3 hours before we stop to find a place for a fast food meal and then head back home.
We are estimating a return back to Redding between 7:30 – 8:00 pm with smiles on our faces.

All or portions of this trip are subject to change. We are reaching out to local birders of the area to join us for any part of this trip or share any tips on where we should visit for any recent bird sightings of interest. It is essential that we hear from you if you are planning to caravan or if you are looking for a ride share with our group, contact Field Trip Leader (email link) Larry Jordan, or call 5309495266 and leave a message. Carpooling is highly recommended, and we can only assist in finding riders and we will do our best, but no guarantees. Please let us know if you are planning to drive, and you have room for rider(s) as well. Those willing to ride instead of drive, please be prepared to move your well packed items to another vehicle when you arrive at the Turtle Bay Monolith Parking Lot. Please pack a lunch, plenty of snacks, comfortable footwear, extra socks, full water container, sunscreen, insect repellant, and your field optics. 

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Wintu Audubon Outing to Arcata Marsh

By on August 27, 2017 in

We will gather at the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center parking lot to meet trip leader Bill Oliver. Many participants on this trip spend the night in Arcata to meet there in the morning. The 307 acre Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary integrates the City of Arcata’s wastewater treatment plant with 5 miles of walking paths through freshwater marshes, salt marsh, tidal sloughs, grassy uplands, and mudflats. Many shorebirds and migrants along the Pacific Flyway are seen here. Call Bill @ 941-7741 for more information.

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Godwit Days 2017

By on February 9, 2017 in

Godwit Days 2017

Come celebrate the Marbled Godwit and explore the lush Redwood Coast. Observe many bird species and wildlife through the selection of field trips, lectures, workshops, and boat excursions led by experienced local guides during our annual week-long festival. Tour the expansive mudflats, the wild river valleys and the rocky ocean coast of this sector of the Klamath bioregion in northwest California.

The festival provides a perfect opportunity to see tens of thousands of shorebirds in migration, the occasional rarity, pelagic birds, visit Spotted Owls in the Redwoods, learn bird calls, photograph birds at all elevations, identify dragonflies and damselflies, search for amphibians, recognize coastal flora, view children’s artwork, learn from renowned keynote presenters and numerous government and non-profit organizations, see 100+ birds on the Big Day trip and add to your life list.

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Godwit Days Registration Now Open

By on February 3, 2016 in

Come celebrate the Marbled Godwit and explore the lush Redwood Coast. Observe many bird species and wildlife through our selection of field trips, lectures, workshops, and boat excursions led by experienced local guides. Tour the expansive mudflats, the wild river valleys and the rocky ocean coast of this sector of the Klamath bioregion in northwest California. Learn more about the history of Godwit Days or find out about Godwit Days festivals and events.