By now, this opening should be familiar: We planned to do (A), but (X) happened, so we went to Plan (B).
(A) = Go to the Ahwahnee for spouse's birthday, a trip booked one year in advance
(X) = Yosemite closed - roads blocked by snow, and power outage (not forecast one year in advance)
(B) = What the hell - how about Nick's Cove, up on Tomales? Sounds like a plan....
Unlike us, birds usually know where to hang out and where not to go.
We'd already arranged the vacation days. We knew a week ago that the weather would be dicey and we might spend much of our time at Yosemite indoors. I'd gone out and bought new books and expensive wine and cheese in preparation.
Still, when the news came through on Monday morning that all roads into Yosemite were closed... ugh. Three and a half feet of snow blocking 120 and 41, and slides/downed lines blocking 140. Suboptimal at best.
Tuesday morning, still ready to go if they can plow a way clear. Ahwahnee calls to say your reservation is cancelled, sorry about that. Maybe we could head up Wednesday instead? Not real likely, but they agree to hold the reservation for the other two nights.
Tuesday afternoon, teh internets say power is out to Yosemite Valley for 3-6 days - hotels are doing what they can, but there is only light, no heat or hot water. Temps in the 30s. Most visitors being evacuated.
Hon, I think we need to consider other options.
We had a nice time at Nick's Cove a few years ago - what do you think? Done. Booked. Out we go on Wednesday morning, into yet another rainstorm. But by the time we get to the coast after a late start and a nice lunch in Petaluma... by god, blue skies! Green hills! Fluffy white sheep! And clouds to match!
Good plan. So what's at Bodega?
The odd couple... The domestic goose didn't care about being seen together, but the Canada was a bit shy about it (but it didn't want to leave and join the other Canadas).
The not so obvious - I caught some birds flying out of the corner of my eye, and they turned out to be Ruddy Turnstones. I hadn't seen them in years until a few months ago when I spotted some, also up here in Bodega.
srlsy... they found just about the most difficult spot for a good photo on the whole shoreline of Bodega Bay. But that wasn't going to stop me from trying.
One other treat at Bodega was Brant. I just love them, but don't often get to see them, even living close to the coast as I do. There were plenty of them on the bay and they're looking sharp these days...
Last time I was up at Bodega Bay was in January. It was my first winter trip up there in several years, and my friend indulged me so that I could take this photo. I hope you find it as entertaining as I did. (There, I've met my political commentary quota for the week.)
After spending a few hours in Bodega Bay, we headed down to Nick's where there were a few more hours of decent weather before the next wave of storms hit. A few slices of life from that window of opportunity:
Still working on learning gulls. Adult and kid western harrasing each other.
Adult Western Gull surveys the scene from a platform of relative comfort.
Boathouse with storm approaching...
Coots riding it out
Low tide = food everywhere!!
Marbled Godwits hunker down for the storm.
A few last (full-size) glimpses of the shorebirds before wrapping up...
Marbled Godwits find some tender morsels in the sand.
And... not just Willets, but Willets in molt. What could be more awesome?
Well, Yosemite with White-headed Woodpeckers in molt, for one. But it was a lovely quick getaway. We're so lucky to live in a place where someplace this nice is "Plan B".