Today I took a walk in the newly rehabbed Eel River Wildlife Area Ocean Ranch Unit (Loleta) and brought along my new Sony 200-600mm lens. I was hoping to practice with it and capture some local wildlife. It was chilly but the wind was minimal, making for a very pleasant walk.
The area is an 850-acre restoration project and it’s meant to benefit native plant, fish and wildlife species. Improvements also included a parking lot, formal trail system and a launch for kayaks and canoes. There were several sign boards in place, however signage hadn’t been attached yet. I look forward to when they’re put up so I can get help identifying the many birds I saw down there. Another neat feature of the refuge is the many benches and picnic tables placed at perfect increments. You literally could spend a day down there if you packed snacks (use caution on the drinks – no bathrooms yet!).
I saw many ducks, a few cranes and a handful of other hikers. One very sweet couple I met had been watching a pair of deer, bedded down in the marsh area next to the ponds, although I did not see them. The walk was flat, paved and very easy to traverse making it accessible to most folks. Currently, the front gate is locked to vehicles and you have to walk in. However, with views like this, it’s not a walk I’d complain about.
This refuge is directly below the Waluplh-Lighthouse Ranch BLM Park, which is another beautiful spot to explore. This park overlooks the Pacific and is perfect for whale watching. Did you know they we currently have gray whales starting to migrate down our coast? Bring your binoculars! You can actually see the Waluply-Lighthouse Ranch BLM Park in the top left corner of the above photo.
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