A lesser yellowlegs explores the shoreline of the lagoon, which is a great place for bird-watching. During nesting season, a ranch guide says, the preserve will be so crowded with herons and egrets that the redwoods will look like giant Christmas trees. (Peter DaSilva / For The Times)
A great egret heads for a redwood. The birds’ annual courtship ritual is “almost like a ballet in the trees,” one guide says. The males arrive first, picking out the best nesting sites. When the females arrive, the males show off. By April, pale turquoise-colored eggs are visible in the nests. By May, the chicks are hatching. (Peter DaSilva / For The Times)
Joshua Chynoweth and Helena Horak of Palo Alto, Calif., use spotting scopes to view shore birds in Bolinas Lagoon Preserve near Stinson Beach. The preserve is a seasonal nesting ground for great herons and egrets -- and home to the occasional bird of prey. One day, a visitor spotted a raven, a red-tailed hawk and an adolescent bald eagle. (Peter DaSilva / For The Times)
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Visitors hike one of the many trails at the preserve, which is located on a 1,000-acre former dairy ranch. A word to the wise for visitors: Wear comfortable hiking boots and prepare for steep climbs along muddy trails. (Peter DaSilva / For The Times)
