Manchester State Park Bird Walk

Trying to spot the Virginia Rail as it moved back and forth in the reeds. 

Last month, we hit the trails at Manchester State Park for a fantastic guided bird walk through its coastal and wetland habitats, led by State Park biologist Alison Cebula. By the end of the morning, we had recorded 43 species.  

One of the first—and biggest—highlights was a flock of Snowy Plovers, which Alison quickly spotted and put us on. As we headed north along the beach, we watched a steady stream of Sooty Shearwaters just offshore, along with gulls and shorebirds at the water’s edge, including Baird’s, Least, and Western Sandpipers.

Alison sporting her Plover hat - made by MCAS member and State Park volunteer Anita Soost.

We then headed over the dunes to the Davis Wetlands Trail, where the birding kept coming. Even with just one remaining patch of water, we found a great mix of raptors and wetland species, including a Virginia Rail and a female Cinnamon Teal.

The raptor action stole the show next. Two Northern Harriers, including a striking “Gray Ghost” male, crossed paths and launched into what looked like an aerial showdown—diving, swooping, and chasing each other across the marsh. With the breeding season behind us, we could only speculate about what sparked the dramatic display.

North and South Coast members showed up for the walk. 

To keep the group small and minimize disturbance to the Snowy Plovers, the walk was limited to 12 participants. Interest was high, though, with a waiting list of hopeful birders. We’ll look for an opportunity to schedule another walk with Alison in the future.

A big thanks to Alison for sharing her deep knowledge of the park and its birds, and for her ongoing work and advocacy for Snowy Plovers across Mendocino County. It was a memorable morning in the field, and we’re already looking forward to the next one!