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!

 

Lassen's Manzanita Lake

There's usually at least one Bald Eagle watching over Manzanita Lake at Lassen Volcanic National Park at any given time.

Here, let me zoom in a little, so you can see what I'm talking about...

I think this is a perfectly nice place for a majestic bird of prey to perch.

Not only is the air crisp and fresh up here in the mountains, but the view of the lake is incredible.

 All of these beautiful views can be seen from the lovely trail that winds around the lake...

Better get a move on! The sun's comin' up quick!

Mountain Birding: Elevation 5890 Feet - Part 6

Manzanita Lake

Lassen Volcanic National Park

We would have been perfectly happy with seeing just the one White-headed Woodpecker during our walk around Manzanita Lake, but we also spotted this Hairy Woodpecker pecking away at a tree!

How wonderful it was to get finally get some clear, close-up photos of one!

They have such beautiful markings on their feathers...

The hike around the lake is an easy one and so worth it! You can find more info about the Manzanita Lake Trail here.

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!

Mountain Birding: Elevation 5890 Feet - Part 1

Every time we visit Manzanita Lake at Lassen Volcanic National Park, I'm always surprised at how beautiful it is. No matter how many times I've seen it, the picturesque lake takes my breath away like I'm seeing it for the first time...

Although there are manzanita bushes scattered around the lake, I think it should be called Glass Lake or Reflection Lake because of obvious reasons.

Anywho, on to the birds we saw...

There were a couple of Mallards swimming around, along with a few Canada Geese and a Pied-billed Grebe...

 And, of course, there were lots of squirrels and chipmunks hanging around to make things interesting...

On tomorrow's blog post, we're takin' a dip...

Manzanita Lake - Lassen Volcanic National Park

It's too bad it was so smoky when we went to Lassen Volcanic National Park because we know how absolutely gorgeous the park can be!

You know from my other posts of Manzanita Lake that there is usually an incredible blue sky overhead.

A group of Mallards was there to greet us at the picnic area and came right up to us looking for handouts. This one was nice enough to pose for me...

And what's that flying overhead? An Osprey, getting ready to dive down and pluck a fish right out of the lake...

 Tomorrow, we head over to Kings Creek to have a picnic among the wildflowers...

Manzanita Lake

Our recent trip to Lassen Volcanic National Park for research was amazing! We saw several new birds to add to our Big Year list and the walk around Manzanita Lake was absolutely beautiful.

Hairy Woodpecker

Spotted Sandpiper

 Steller's Jays...

The wind picked up and mussed up his hair-do!

 This White-headed Woodpecker was an exciting find...

 There were lots of Canada Geese on and around the lake...

And even some goslings!

Mountain Chickadee

 Red-winged Blackbirds...

 

 Mallards...

 
 Little baby Buffleheads...

 So cute and fuzzy!

American Robin

  And spotting the Bald Eagle was the cherry on top of a wonderful day...

 He was perched up on top of the dead tree in the middle...

Beautiful!