Wildlife in Northern California/Southern Oregon Coast

[cutaway]

We'll be taking a short vacation to northern California and the southern Oregon Coast in mid-September. Are there opportunities for wildlife photos? The main reason I ask is to determine if it's worth bringing along the 500mm f/4 (plus tripod and gimbal). I can go lighter and just bring a 100-400mm.

Any special places to go for wildlife?

Thanks!

[bobbyz]

Where in northern CA you will visiting?

[cutaway]

We'll be starting in Garberville and then work our way north to see the redwoods.

[sparker1]

When that big old bear wanders across the trail, you'll wish you had the 500mm. However, it won't be mounted, so does it matter where it is?

[mdvaden]

You can do a lot with elk near Prairie Creek redwoods if you mix up the background and time of day.

Even see the Roosevelt Elk shot that Nichols did for the Oct. 2009 Redwood cover story in Nat Geo magazine?

I also think that the crows and ravens remain way too neglected for photos.

[BirdBoy]

Originally Posted by sparker1

When that big old bear wanders across the trail, you'll wish you had the 500mm.?

In my 14 years of living in the PNW, going out every hunting season plus spending hundreds of hours in the woods photographing,hiking, etc. I have seen 8 Black Bears in total, 5 of those where while driving logging roads and only 2 second views. Extremely unlikely that you would come across one.

However, I DO recommend that you bring the 500. California and Oregon Coast has awesome pelagic birds, as well as shorebirds, and big game. Elk are moderately easy to find if you know where to look and deer are very frequent.

I don't know how far North you are traveling, but Brookings, Oregon has very good pelagics. Coos Bay, Oregon is probably in the top three best places on the West Coast to see Pelagics. Crescent City is also very good in Northern Cal.

[mdvaden]

Originally Posted by BirdBoy

In my 14 years of living in the PNW, going out every hunting season plus spending hundreds of hours in the woods photographing,hiking, etc. I have seen 8 Black Bears in total, 5 of those where while driving logging roads and only 2 second views. Extremely unlikely that you would come across one.

However, I DO recommend that you bring the 500. California and Oregon Coast has awesome pelagic birds, as well as shorebirds, and big game. Elk are moderately easy to find if you know where to look and deer are very frequent.

I don't know how far North you are traveling, but Brookings, Oregon has very good pelagics. Coos Bay, Oregon is probably in the top three best places on the West Coast to see Pelagics. Crescent City is also very good in Northern Cal.

You know much more about birds than I.

I'm familiar with Brookings and Crescent City, although watched birds more in Brookings.

You ever seen Trinidad south of Brookings? It reminds me of the Cannon Beach and Ecola Park area sort of.

[BirdBoy]

Originally Posted by mdvaden

You know much more about birds than I.
You ever seen Trinidad south of Brookings? It reminds me of the Cannon Beach and Ecola Park area sort of.

No, I haven't.
One of the awesome things about the West Coast is that you can be at any place by the ocean and it will remind you of the beach that you are most familiar with. However, there is enough variation that it is still new and exciting. That is what I love about the West Coast.