Redwood Region Audubon Society

Birding Hotspots

Little River Drive

By: David Fix

Those interested in searching through chickadee-and-kinglet flocks for unusual landbirds in fall can pursue this craft along a disused, barricaded (as of fall 1998) county road called Little River Drive, a few miles north of the Arcata Airport and immediately east of Hwy 101. At Clam Beach County Park exit, turn right (east) onto the foot of Central Avenue, then immediately left onto Little River Drive. Do not take the first right-hand turn up the hill, but continue around the corner (sign will advise the road is closed in one mile). Park at the barricade and walk northward along the abandoned, partially overgrown roadway beyond the barricades. A more-or-less continuous slough between the road and Hwy 101 supports Green Herons, Wood Ducks and Virginia Rails regularly.

The objective here is to locate flocks of Chestnut-backed and Black-capped chickadees and kinglets, looking through them for vagrants. A Red-eyed Vireo, a Prothonotary Warbler, a Chestnut-sided Warbler, a Black-throated Blue Warbler, and two Blackpolls were found here in limited birding in fall 1998. This stretch of road is perhaps a mile long, and ordinarily requires about one hour to work thoroughly. Freeway noise is considerable, but, obviously, the bulk of searching is done by eye. Devote minimal effort to birdfinding where flocks are not encountered.

A handy two-car approach involves parking a pick-up vehicle at the junction of Crannell Road and Little River Drive. Crannell is the first exit north of Clam Beach. The north end of Little River is similarly barricaded (fall 1998) and will be obvious. About one hundred feet of the roadway just south of the north barricade has been obliterated by a small slide, but is easily traversed on a well-established footpath.

Redwood Region Audubon Society
P.O. Box 1054, Eureka, CA 95502
Last updated February 1999