it was still foggy as we crossed over Samoa Bridge to the peninsula
our first stop was the marsh by Manila Community Park
...where we dipped tiny invertebrates from pond water...
...putting them into magnifying viewers...
...for a closer look and identification
next we played a game called Fox in Front (based on “Red Light, Green Light”)
Then we played a version of Hide & Seek called Predator Prey
Our leader Maggie was the Predator while we were all tree frog prey.
If you weren’t spotted on the first round you came closer and she’d try to spot you again.
Down on the shore we paused first for a snack...
...before heading down to the shoreline
...in search of various invertebrates
...which we used magnifier viewers to have a closer look at
water beetles were abundant
some crabs in a driftwood log...
...attracted a lot of attention
then Maggie brought out a set of binoculars...
...with which we looked at birds and distant features around the bay
boarding the bus back to our lunchtime rendezvous at Manila Community Center
after lunch we took a hike over the dunes to the beach, counting shades of green
our guide Jeff told us about invasive species like European Beach Grass
which we took a turn at pulling to augment efforts of Friends of the Dunes
expanses of sand like this are being restored with it’s removal
making space for the return of native plants like...
Beach Strawberry
and Beach Buckwheat
identified here by Aleksys
Jeff led us to the top of a dune
which all enjoyed taking turns rolling or...
running...
...or jumping...
...down
on the beach we felt the full force of a strong sea breeze
and saw a dead sea lion washed up by the surf
home stretch back to the rendezvous
it had been a fun day!
Friends of the Dunes organized and led a very fun and informative all-day field trip which introduced us to several different coastal environments on both the bay and dunes sides of the peninsula that separates Humboldt Bay from the Pacific Ocean.
