Day 54, Sat. May 26,2018, LIghthouses and Estuaries and More Birds

It's rather spectacular that right out our windows is the Battery Lighthouse that is "Tidal Blocked" but can be accessed when the tides are out.  There is a walkway ,but in  high tide it is under water.

The rocks in the foreground reveal a road at low tide.

 So that was the first objective this morning. Some tine spent looking at the "Crescent" shaped harbor, and getting the lay of the land. Remember we said that this town was inundated by Tsunamis twice in recent history, so a huge seawall or breakwater was built in the 1980's. They are reinforced with the  Dolos units. These are 36 ton concrete units that are "T" shaped and designed to slow down the storm surge. They may not stop a Tsunami but will slow it down for sure.  Two earthquake water surges in the Pacific have hit Crescent City in the 2000's, and caused minimal damage.

Looking toward the port of C.C. from the lighthouse. Before the breakwater  was installed you can imagine what a Tsunami might have done.

If you look hard you can see our trailer in the campground from the lighthouse. (HA!)

Those Volos Units help to keep the storms from the land.

 A trip to the "Visitors Center" turned up a locked door and an entry led to it. Signage problem? Never did get the assistance we wanted.
BUT... we left there and drove up Pebble Beach road from where you can see the largest colony of birds on one rock on the West Coast. This is called "CASTLE  ROCK" and sticks out about 1/2 mile into the water just west of Crescent City. There are documented 260,000 birds on it. Eleven different species nesting. Zoom in on the photo to see the birds if possible.

This is Castle Rock with 260,000 birds on it. The "gray" areas are all birds 'wing to wing"

The end of the Rock also has thousands of birds. Common Murres, Western and BB Gulls, mostly

Driving up Pebble Beach Rd. further were more places to see both the birds and seals hauled out on the rocks. At the end of the road was Pt. George and the Pt.George Lighthouse. Four lighthouse keepers were killed there over time from storms that sent waves over the lighthouse They no longer have lighthouse keepers. (Technology!)

As yet I have not identified this flower, The stamens (white) stump me.

The old Point St. George Light Station.

The St. George Light out to sea . There are no visitors allowed.

The beach north from Pt. St. George.

 The last stop of the day was to see either Lake Earl (story later) or the Estuary of the Smith River (named after Jedediah Smith).  We did get to the Smith River Estuary. It really shows the effect of the fresh water emptying into the salt water at that point. There were Harbor Seals, CORMORANTS, A  PERGRNE FALCON, RING BILLED AND WESTERN GULLS, and a SURF SCOTER among others.

Ruth found this "wave". Burls are a big business here.

**White Calla Lilies grow wild  here.

Harbor Seals hauling out at Smith River. Pup on the right, Mom on left.

Smith River by the Ocean. (Harbor Seals, Cormorants, Gulls.)

Smith River (L), Pacific Ocean (R)

The trip to  Lake Earl will be done tomorrow.  Driving to it today led to a side trip on South River Road.  (South of the smith River). Of course Ruth found that to be a great photography moment. There were flowers  all the way to the dead end.  Here they are and tomorrow we will see the Jedediah Redwood forest and also Lake Earl the largest and most prolific Estuary on the 'Continental' west coast.

Rhododendrons that are just starting to wane.

These were all at one home.

Very beautiful in this area at this time of the year.

 See you tomorrow.HA!  This weekend in the USA is Memorial Day weekend where we honor those who have died in defense of our country, Thanks to all who have served in the Military.