National Park Birding

Come along as we walk around picturesque Manzanita Lake in beautiful Lassen Volcanic National Park and look for birds...

To find out more about this scenic Northern California national park,

please visit my travel website Vaughn the Road Again.

Let's go birding!

 

Spotted Sandpiper Sighting

Spotted Sandpiper

Manzanita Lake

Lassen Volcanic National Park

I didn't realize there were three of them until hubby pointed them all out.

You can see the third one flying off in a blur in the photo below...

Let's go birding!

 

Where the Birds Are ☼ Lassen Volcanic National Park

Red-breasted Nuthatch

We saw (and heard!) so many birds during our hike up to Ridge Lakes in Lassen Volcanic National Park!

Cassin's Vireo

There have always been a lot of birds to be seen around Manzanita Lake, which is a nice flat, leisurely walk with great views of Lassen Peak.

Dusky Flycatcher

However, if you're a more ambitious birder (and hiker), I'd definitely recommend the Ridge Lakes hike where we spotted flycatchers (Dusky Flycatcher, Hammond's Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher), Cassin's Vireo, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Dark-eyed Juncos, and a variety of warblers (Hermit Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler).

Hammond's Flycatcher

This hike is only 2 miles round trip, but has a 1, 045 elevation change and is all uphill, as you can imagine. In mid-August, there were wildflowers in full bloom, representing every color under the rainbow. This is the second time we've done this hike and I didn't think it could get any prettier than when we did it last autumn when there weren't even any flowers.

Orange-crowned Warbler

After completing the hike, we were able to add three new species to our lifelist! I had a heck of a time identifying some of these after we got home, but thanks to the Merlin Bird ID App, we were able to narrow them down.

Dusky Flycatcher

Any time I can say I saw a new bird is a successful birding adventure in my book!

This isn't the greatest shot of the Hermit Warbler--sheesh, warblers are challenging to get photos of!--but it's the only one I was able to get and am posting it for reference purposes.

The Merlin Bird ID App identified this little guy as a juvenile Yellow-rumped Warbler... What do you think?

Birds can be found all around Lassen VNP, but it's funny how we find little concentrated pockets of them in certain areas. Just the sound of a jay or the movement of warblers in the trees can make any day a little brighter.

You can read more about my hikes to Ridge Lakes over on my travel blog Vaughn the Road Again.

Let's go birding!

Birding at Manzanita Lake ☼ Lassen Volcanic National Park

The trail around Manzanita Lake is one of the easiest and most pleasant walks in Lassen Volcanic National Park. Every step offers gorgeous views and wonderful birding opportunities!

Mountain Chickadee

Birds we've spotted around the lake that I put in today's video include: Dark-eyed Junco, Bald Eagle, American Robin, Mountain Chickadee, American Dipper, Evening Grosbeak, Western Tanager, Steller's Jay, Townsend's Solitaire, Bufflehead, White-headed Woodpecker, Western Wood-Pewee, Common Loon, Pacific Wren, and Brown Creeper.

Townsend's Solitaire

So let's take a walk around beautiful Manzanita Lake and have a look at some mountain birds in northern California...

Let's go birding!

Ducklings Chasing Bugs at Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic National Park

These baby Mallard ducks were having a blast chasing bugs on Manzanita Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park!

Let's go birding!

Canada Geese ☼ Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic National Park

Wonder if these Canada Geese realize they're livin' the good life at Manzanita Lake? I can't think of a more beautiful place to spend the summer in Northern California than Lassen Volcanic National Park...

Let's go birding!

Spotted Sandpiper ☼ Manzanita Creek, Lassen Volcanic National Park

Just about every time we walk by the spot where Manzanita Creek flows into Manzanita Lake, we see either an American Dipper or a Spotted Sandpiper. Today, we're focusing on the cute little Sandpiper we had the pleasure of watching during our latest visit to Lassen Volcanic National Park.

If you've never seen a Spotted Sandpiper, well, they do this funny butt bop that we like to call The Sandpiper Boogie.

I did a little digging around and the function of the teetering motion hasn't been determined. Apparently, chicks teeter nearly as soon as they hatch from the egg. Whatever the reason, I could watch this bird bee-bop around the creek all day long! This guy even did it while standing on one leg. Shake that rump!

Here's some video so you can get an idea of what the heck I'm talking about...

(You can find my footage of the dancing American Dipper HERE.)

Let's go birding!

Male Pileated Woodpecker Sighting ☼ Lassen Volcanic National Park

It's always exciting to spot a new bird to add to your lifelist. Especially one you've seen photos of and wonder if you'll ever get lucky enough to take some of your own.

Well, I'm happy to report that we spotted our first-ever Pileated Woodpecker while walking the trail around Manzanita Lake!

I was surprised at the sheer size of this magnificent bird. Like how I didn't realize Red-breasted Nuthatches were so tiny until I finally saw one with my own eyes, this woodpecker is HUGE!

This is a male (you can tell from the red on its cheeks that the female doesn't have) and I could have watched him peck around at the logs all day long. Other woodpeckers peck so quickly that they are practically a blur, and the Pileated chips away at trees like a big hammer. (You can see him in action in the video down below.)

Birding is such a thrill! You never know what new or exciting birds your going to come across in your travels! Of all the places in Lassen VNP we've gone birding, Manzanita Lake is by far the most fruitful. You can read more about the birds we've spotted in Lassen HERE and also over on my travel blog Vaughn the Road Again where I've cataloged all of our hikes around the park.

Let's go birding!

Lassen Birding Firsts

Every time we walk around beautiful Manzanita Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park, we have such a wonderful time! The bird sightings are just a bonus to all the breathtaking scenery and crisp mountain air. Well, this time we spotted some special birds for the first time ever and I'm thrilled to add three new names to our lifelist.

First up, the Evening Grosbeaks around the lake were the stars of the show. Imagine my excitement when this beauty posed for us and ate some forest floor snacks off the ground right in front of us!

 This guy is so cool he's gotta wear shades!

If it weren't for this beauty's lively song, I never would have looked up and spotted its flash of bright yellow in the tree above me. One shiny new Western Tanager sighting...Check.

 And finally, here is my first-ever Red-breasted Sapsucker...

They might not be the greatest bird photos I've ever taken, but hey, they're good enough to allow me to identify him and that's all that matters!

Watch this Evening Grosbeak in action...

Let's go birding!