November 12, 2026
1330 – 1630. Cool, breezy and overcast when we arrived. Later in the afternoon, the sun came out.
Today I visited Abbott’s Lagoon with my Organismal Biology students. After my trip a few weeks ago with General Biology, I was super excited to come back for a second visit, and I wasn’t disappointed.
I arrived right around 1:30 and met up with some of my students, and headed down the trail. (We’d agreed that anyone arriving at a different time could meet us down near the lagoon). The walk through the upland habitat was fairly quiet, although there were still plenty of birds to see. Song Sparrows, a Black Phoebe, and White-crowned Sparrows appeared along the way, with a Turkey Vulture overhead. I also caught a glimpse of what I think was an Ash-throated Flycatcher, but I wasn’t able to get a photo, so that one will have to remain a possibility. As we passed by the inland portion of the lagoon, a Bonaparte’s Gull was out on the water.
There was plenty to notice along the trail besides birds: Coastal Bush Lupine, Coyote Brush, California Blackberry, California Poppy (coastal), and California Goldenbush. Farther along, I photographed Pacific Wax Myrtle and Coastal Hedge-nettle. I also spied a couple of Columbian Black-tailed Deer at the base of the nearby hills. Not sure if the electric fence is still active (I suspect not, as there are places where sections of the fence are missing, but I wasn’t going to test it, haha).
When we arrived at the bridge, we were treated to a close-up visit with a magnificent Great Blue Heron (and an equally majestic Great Egret nearby). From the bridge, we also spotted some Mallard, American Coot, and a Double-crested Cormorant that flew overhead. Of course, we looked for River Otters, but none were in sight. I photographed footprints in the mud as evidence that they had been there, and kept hoping we’d find the animals themselves later in the day.
One of the unexpected things I saw today was a number of dead Brown Pelicans (at least half a dozen). Well, it was unexpected until I learned a very interesting bit of natural history – apparently, here at Abbott’s Lagoon (and a few other locations, all in California), River Otters have been documented attacking and drowning pelicans before feeding on them. These pelican remains also provide food for Coyotes and other scavengers, and there is speculation that pelicans may be beginning to respond to the danger: researchers have observed resting birds taking flight when an otter approached. Nature is endlessly interesting. 😀
As I walked onto the beach, the lagoon initially looked quiet. The huge gathering of gulls and pelicans from my previous visit wasn’t there. Then I came closer and realized there were hundreds of small shorebirds. This was going to be good.
I walked to the edge of the mudflat, where Western Sandpipers were foraging alongside Dunlin and a Black-bellied Plover. There were Semipalmated Plovers and Least Sandpipers, too. Two Caspian Terns and a Ring-billed Gull passed overhead. I love the diversity of plants on the beach, as well, finding Coastal Sagewort, Pacific Silverweed, Oregon Gumplant, Silver Beachweed, Beach Suncup, Alkali Heath, and Saltgrass.
Eventually I continued along the edge of the lagoon toward the ocean. Snowy Plovers and Least Sandpipers were seen along the way, and at the far end of the lagoon, I found a few Dunlin, Least Sandpipers, and a Black-bellied Plover foraging with a Short-billed Dowitcher. The dowitcher very cooperatively called as it flew off: a three-part “chew-chew-chew” that allowed me to make the ID. I watched one of the Black-bellied Plovers catch and eat what looks like a Pile Worm.
I’d originally intended not to walk all the way to the ocean. But we could see that the waves looked HUGE, and I decided I needed a closer look. Good call. The ocean was beautiful, with gorgeous greens and blues in the waves as they rose and crashed near shore. Brown Pelicans flew past, along with a few gulls. A Common Raven that had been moving parallel to me for a while finally came close enough for some photos.
By midafternoon, I decided to start heading back, knowing perfectly well that I would take my time. On the return walk, I found Snowy Plovers and Least Sandpipers hunkered down in little depressions in the sand. SO CUTE. I took some lovely photos of one of the Snowy Plover, a banded bird that I plan to report and see what I can learn about its history.
Of course, I stopped again at the big gathering of shorebirds. Most were the usual suspects, but now there was a much larger flock of Sanderlings, along with several Black-bellied Plovers. When we’d arrived earlier in the day, the sky had been overcast. By this second visit, the sun had come out, giving me a different set of conditions for photographs. I also photographed several California Gulls during the afternoon, and noticed a lone gull standing on the sand near the water’s edge.
Finally, it was time to head back through the upland habitat. First, though, we were on Otter Watch. I had missed them on my last visit and so VERY MUCH wanted to see them this time. And, oh boy, did I see them.
I was walking with two of my students as we approached the bridge. On the other side, several more students were looking intently at something in the lagoon. I waved, and through some spontaneous sign language, we established that THEY WERE LOOKING AT OTTERS: Two North American River Otters swimming right along the edge of the cattails. They ran up onto the sand and wrestled for a bit, then slipped back into the water and swam right past me, under the bridge, and out into the lagoon. A few minutes later, they returned with a friend, for a total of three otters on the shore near the rocks. (Around this time, I also spotted a lone Pied-billed Grebe in the lagoon)
One of them went back into the water and, as we watched, caught something and ate it. (One of my students got an amazing video, which I’ll post here if I get permission). Then the otter swam right past me again, back under the bridge, giving me wonderful views. When it climbed out onto the dunes, I got a few more great photos. Also, very cool to see footprints in the sand, and realize that none of them are human – just 100% River Otter!
This was, by far, the best River Otter sighting I’ve ever had. I’ve seen them a few times before, but never this close or for this long. OH MY GOD, they are adorable. Watching them wrestle and play, I couldn’t help thinking of little puppies. I think everyone who saw them was thrilled, and I’m so happy for everyone who was able to see them.
Out on the lagoon, a Bonaparte’s Gull floated on the water, perhaps the same individual we’d seen on our way in. The upland habitat was birdier on the walk back. White-crowned Sparrows and Song Sparrows were joined by a California Scrub-jay and a Western Meadowlark. A couple of Northern Harriers and a whole bunch of California Quail made the return walk even better. I am always happy to see quail. I noticed a few new plants, as well, including Field Horsetail, Western Dock, and Coyote Mint.
The final bird of the day was a Common Raven perched on a pole on Pierce Point Road. Shorebirds, enormous waves, a little sunshine, and the best otter encounter I’ve ever had. What an amazing day at the lagoon.
Species list
Birds
American Coot (Fulica americana), Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans), Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola), Bonaparte’s Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia), Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), California Gull (Larus californicus), California Quail (Callipepla californica), California Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica), Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia), Common Raven (Corvus corax), Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum), Dunlin (Calidris alpina), Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), Great Egret (Ardea alba), Heermann’s Gull (Larus heermanni), Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius), Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps), Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius), Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis), Sanderling (Calidris alba), Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus), Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla), Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus), Short-billed Gull (Larus brachyrhynchus), Snowy Plover (Anarhynchus nivosus), Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), Surfbird (Calidris virgata), Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta), Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri), White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys), possible Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens).
Plants
Alkali Heath (Frankenia salina), Baltic Rush (Juncus balticus), Beach Saltbush (Atriplex leucophylla), Beach Suncup (Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia), California Blackberry (Rubus ursinus), California Goldenbush (Ericameria ericoides), California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica), Coastal Bush Lupine (Lupinus arboreus), Coastal Hedge-nettle (Stachys chamissonis), Coastal Sagewort (Artemisia pycnocephala), Cobwebby Thistle (Cirsium occidentale), Common Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum), Common Cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum), Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Coyote Brush (Baccharis pilularis), Coyote Mint (Monardella villosa), Curly Dock (Rumex crispus), Desert Horse Purslane (Trianthema portulacastrum), European Searocket (Cakile maritima), Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense), Hairy Hawkbit (Leontodon saxatilis), Jersey Cudweed (Pseudognaphalium luteoalbum), Knot Grass (Paspalum distichum), Marsh Jaumea (Jaumea carnosa), Oregon Gumplant (Grindelia stricta), Pacific Silverweed (Argentina pacifica), Pacific Wax Myrtle (Morella californica), Pale Spikerush (Eleocharis macrostachya), Panicled Bulrush (Scirpus microcarpus), Red Pigweed (Oxybasis rubra), Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis), Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), Shortpod Mustard (Hirschfeldia incana), Silver Beachweed (Ambrosia chamissonis), Spreading Rush (Juncus patens), Thickleaf Willow Dock (Rumex crassus), Three-square Bulrush (Schoenoplectus pungens), Western Dock (Rumex occidentalis).
Other Wildlife
Bronze Beetle (Chrysolina bankii), Columbian Black-tailed Deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus), North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis).
Let me know what you think!