This area has an admirable history of attracting rare migrant shorebirds. Some local birders avoid it because parts of the beach can also be an uninhibited clothing-optional venue. But lately, surfers intent on waves and birders intent on rarities have fostered a comfortable ambiance all around. Sandhill Bluff, the small rise on the bluff just south of the beach, is a Native American midden. We say “south” because by now, as we work northward, the coast has curved enough to face more or less southwest.
Directions. This site’s dirt parking area is on the inland side of Hwy 1 (milepost 26.01) immediately north of the intersection with Laguna Rd, 5.9 miles from Western Dr or 2.3 miles north of Baldwin Creek Beach. Walk across the highway at the north end of the little parking lot and find the path to the railroad tracks. From there you can proceed directly west to the beach, or you can follow the tracks south about 100 yards to a well-used trail that descends through riparian forest to a marshy lagoon and out to the beach. You can also scan the Laguna Creek lagoon from above by walking farther along the railroad tracks, but the light is not good after morning.
Much of the beach itself may be closed to public access during the nesting season to protect Snowy Plovers. Please respect these closures. Birds on the beach may still be observed (best by scope) from the low terraces overlooking the beach from its west side.
Birds. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher often lurks in the scrub near the railroad tracks during fall and winter. If water levels are not too high, the lagoon attracts shorebirds in fall, including Greater and Lesser yellowlegs, “peeps,” Baird’s and Pectoral sandpipers, phalaropes, and rarities such as Solitary Sandpiper and even Ruff. Various ducks and occasional geese visit in fall and winter. Snowy Plover is resident on the beach, and many species of gulls can be found there in winter. At appropriate seasons and tides, the rocky shore north of the beach has Black and Ruddy (now rare) turnstones, Surfbird, Black Oystercatcher, Whimbrel, and Wandering Tattler. The abandoned agricultural fields above the beach should be checked in fall and winter for sparrows and Palm Warbler, and the willows north of the marsh and also along Laguna Rd. have potential for vagrants. Black Swift has nested along the coast in this area. White-throated and migrating Vaux’s swifts sometimes forage over the marsh and fields.