LAKE COUNTY >> Anderson Marsh State Historic Park will hold its monthly nature walk on Feb. 14.
Park docent and Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association (AMIA) volunteer Billy Gear, who will lead the walk, said he “plans on hiking the creek trail with an option to do the ridge trail if dry. The theme will be ”Early Spring — flowers, buds, birds and insects.”” There will be no tour of the Historic Ranch House Museum in February.
Bring binoculars and meet in front of the ranch house at 8:15 a.m. for time to experience the early morning wildlife in the ranch house and barn complex yard — the walk will begin at 8:30 a.m.
Many of the trees are “naked” in the winter, making it easier to see birds, according to AMIA volunteers. Recent birds seen in the park include wood ducks; phainopepla; acorn, Nuttal”s and Lewis”s woodpeckers; red-shafted flickers; cedar waxwings; spotted and California towhees; cormorants; white-tailed kites; red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks; great egrets and great blue herons; kingfishers; red-winged blackbirds and robins. It is also the time of year a snipe, white throated sparrows, a bobcat and deer have been seen near the boardwalk.
Heavy rain will cancel the walk. There is no charge for those attending.
Anderson Marsh State Historic Park is located on Highway 53, between Lower Lake and Clearlake. For more information about the walks, email info@andersonmarsh.org or call 995-2658. For more information about the park, visit www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=483.
