Today's plan was to go to the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park to see the old growth redwoods that are estimated to be between 1400 to 1800 yars old. The tallest tree is reported to be 285 ft with a width of bigger than 16 ft. Off we went to Felton which is in the Santa Cruz mountains. The road winds around and through second growth redwoods, Pondersa Pines, Douglas Firs and Oaks. The scenery was incredible! Once we arrived we walked the mile long trail around the oldest stand of Coastal Redwood trees. The redwoods are really inpressive. Some of them were burnt out on the inside from lightening strikes. While the wood does burn it burns itself out because the wood is so dense.
While at the State Park we saw several birds that were lifers for me - Stellar Jays, Bushtits, and "Oregon Race" Dark-eyed Juncos.
We left the Redwoods Sate Park and drove over to the Natural Bridges State Park in Santa Cruz. This is one of the places roosts of Monarch butterflies can be found in the winter months. We were hoping to see butterflies in CA but have only seen a few Cabbage White Sulphurs and 1-2 Monarchs. Down on the beach I saw 3 more lifers - Black Turnstones, Long-billed Curlew fighting with a Marbled Godwit plus there was a Whimbrel nearby. Up above the bridge were Brown Pelicans, Double-crested Cormorants and other birds.
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