Abbotts Lagoon

{{Short description|Lake in California, United States}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Abbotts Lagoon | image = Abbotts Lagoon, October 2012.jpg | caption = | alt = A lake surrounded by hedges, grasses and sand dunes | location = Marin County, California | coords = {{Coord|38|7|3|N|122|57|12|W|type:waterbody_region:US-CA_source:GNIS|display=inline,title}}<ref>{{Cite gnis|217942|Abbotts Lagoon}}</ref> | type = lagoon | inflow = | outflow = Pacific Ocean | catchment = | basin_countries = United States | length = | width = | area = | depth = | max-depth = | volume = | residence_time = | shore = | elevation = sea level | islands = | cities = | frozen =  | pushpin_map = California#USA | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = Location of the lagoon in California, USA. | pushpin_map_caption =  | website = | reference = }}

'''Abbotts Lagoon''' is a lagoon on the northwestern coast of the Point Reyes National Seashore, southwest of Tomales Point, in California, United States. The inland portion of the lagoon receives freshwater runoff, but the lagoon may be brackish from occasional winter tidal exchange along its western edge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://trails.gorp.com/Abbotts-Lagoon-7814|title=Abbotts Lagoon|publisher=Great Outdoor Recreation Pages|accessdate=23 August 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100909020236/http://trails.gorp.com/Abbotts-Lagoon-7814 | archive-date = 2010-09-09}}</ref> The eastern shore of the lagoon is covered with old growth northern coastal scrub including coyote bush, yellow bush lupine, sword fern and California blackberry.<ref name="prbo1">Stallcup, Rich & Pitkin, Melissa ''Discovering Birds at Point Reyes'' (2007) Point Reyes National Seashore Association {{ISBN|0-9607890-6-5}} pp. 35–37</ref>

==Geology== Abbotts Lagoon is usually separated from the Pacific Ocean by dune sand to the west. The eastern side of the lagoon is bordered by Miocene marine sediments to the north and Pliocene marine sediments to the south from sedimentary rock formations on the western side of the San Andreas Fault.<ref>Koenig, James B. ''Geologic Map of California:Santa Rosa Sheet'' (1976) State of California Resources Agency</ref> Santa Margarita Sandstone atop the Monterey Formation forms a ridge along the southern side of the valley containing the lagoon inland of the pedestrian bridge, and is exposed along the eastern shoreline of the lagoon seaward of the pedestrian bridge.<ref name="usgs">{{cite web|url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1127/chapter9.pdf|title=Geology at Point Reyes National Seashore and Vicinity, California|publisher=United States Geological Survey|accessdate=23 August 2011}}</ref>

==History== Coast Miwok lived in the area before 19th-century European colonization. The lagoon land was used for cattle and dairy ranching by the 1870s.<ref name="usgs"/> Abbotts Lagoon was variously identified as Abbott's Lagoon Bombing Target, Abbott's Lagoon Target Area, Abbott's Lagoon Bombing Range, and ''Bombing Range Number Two'' while used as a dive bomber practice area by pilots from Alameda Naval Air Station and Santa Rosa outlying field from 1941 to 1952.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corpsfuds.com/php/siteindex.php?site=J09CA7292&state=California |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331032239/http://www.corpsfuds.com/php/siteindex.php?site=J09CA7292&state=California |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 March 2012 |title=Tomales Bay Abbotts Lagoon Bombing Range, California (J09CA7292) |publisher=Army Corps of Engineers |accessdate=23 August 2011 }}</ref> The lagoon was designated part of Point Reyes National Seashore in 1962.<ref name="usgs"/>

==Recreation== Walking trails provide access to observe the birds and wildflowers of the locally unique habitats surrounding Abbotts Lagoon.<ref name="hiker">[http://www.bahiker.com/northbayhikes/abbottslagoon.html Bay Area Hiker: Abbotts Lagoon]</ref> Brush rabbits, black-tailed jackrabbits, pocket gophers, muskrats, river otter and black-tailed deer may be seen around the lagoon. Coyote, bobcat, gray fox, long-tailed weasel, striped skunk, raccoon, badger, and cougar are rarely seen.<ref name="prbo2">Stallcup, Rich & Pitkin, Melissa ''Discovering Birds at Point Reyes'' (2007) Point Reyes National Seashore Association {{ISBN|0-9607890-6-5}} p.39</ref>

==Birding== thumb|Great blue heron at Abbotts Lagoon Bird species observed at Abbotts Lagoon include: *Auks - common murre<ref name="prbo"/> - pigeon guillemot<ref name="prbo"/> *Blackbirds - Brewer's blackbird<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="guanlao">{{Cite web |url=http://calphoto.com/abbott.htm |title=CalPhoto.com Arnel Guanlao |access-date=8 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090321233024/http://calphoto.com/abbott.htm |archive-date=21 March 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> - brown-headed cowbird<ref name="prbo"/> - red-winged blackbird<ref name="hiker"/><ref name="prbo"/><ref name="guanlao"/> - tricolored blackbird<ref name="prbo"/> *Cormorants - Brandt's cormorant<ref name="prbo"/> - double-crested cormorant<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="adampaul"/> - pelagic cormorant<ref name="prbo"/> *Ducks - American wigeon<ref name="prbo"/> - bufflehead<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="prl"/> - cinnamon teal<ref name="prbo"/> - common goldeneye<ref name="prbo"/> - common merganser<ref name="prbo"/> - gadwall<ref name="prbo"/> - greater scaup<ref name="prbo"/> - green-winged teal<ref name="prbo"/> - lesser scaup<ref name="prbo"/> - mallard<ref name="prbo"/> - northern pintail<ref name="prbo"/> - northern shoveler<ref name="prbo"/> - red-breasted merganser<ref name="prbo"/> - ring-necked duck<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="prl"/> - ruddy duck<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="adampaul"/><ref name="edelstein"/> - surf scoter<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="edelstein"/> *Eagles - golden eagle<ref name="nps">[https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/wildlife_viewing.htm point Reyes National Seashore]</ref> *Falcons - merlin<ref name="prbo"/> - peregrine falcon<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="nps"/> - prairie falcon<ref name="prbo"/> *Finches - American goldfinch<ref name="prbo"/> - house finch<ref name="prbo"/> *Geese - black brant<ref name="biohere">{{Cite web |url=http://biohere.net/natural_areas/california/Marin_County/abbotts_lagoon.php |title=Biohere |access-date=8 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723025106/http://biohere.net/natural_areas/california/Marin_County/abbotts_lagoon.php |archive-date=23 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> *Grebes - black-necked grebe<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="adampaul">[http://blog.adampaul.com/2007/10/14/birding-at-outer-point-reyes/ Adam Paul] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222170414/http://blog.adampaul.com/2007/10/14/birding-at-outer-point-reyes/ |date=22 December 2010 }}</ref><ref name="edelstein">{{Cite web |url=http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Mail/northbaybirds/596177 |title=SurfBirds.com Daniel Edelstein 25 October 2009 |access-date=8 December 2009 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924112333/http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Mail/northbaybirds/596177 |url-status=dead }}</ref> - Clark's grebe<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="adampaul"/> - horned grebe<ref name="prbo"/> - pied-billed grebe<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="prl"/> - western grebe<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="adampaul"/> *Gulls - California gull<ref name="prbo"/> - common gull<ref name="prbo"/> - glaucous-winged gull<ref name="prbo"/> - Heermann's gull<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="rockskipper"/> - herring gull<ref name="prbo"/> - ring-billed gull<ref name="prbo"/> - Thayer's gull<ref name="prbo"/> - western gull<ref name="prbo"/> *Hawks - Cooper's hawk<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="prl"/> - ferruginous hawk<ref name="prbo"/> - northern harrier<ref name="prbo"/> - osprey<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="nps"/> - red-shouldered hawk<ref name="prbo"/> - red-tailed hawk<ref name="prbo"/> - rough-legged buzzard<ref name="prbo"/> - sharp-shinned hawk<ref name="prbo"/> - white-tailed kite<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="prl"/> *Herons - American bittern<ref name="prbo"/> - great blue heron<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="adampaul"/><ref name="panoramio">{{Cite web |url=https://www.panoramio.com/photo/21245975 |title=Panoramio |access-date=29 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013145850/http://www.panoramio.com/photo/21245975 |archive-date=13 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> - great egret<ref name="prbo"/> - snowy egret<ref name="prbo"/> *Hummingbirds - Allen's hummingbird<ref name="prbo">Stallcup, Rich & Pitkin, Melissa ''Discovering Birds at Point Reyes'' (2007) Point Reyes National Seashore Association {{ISBN|0-9607890-6-5}} pp. 36–37</ref> - Anna's hummingbird<ref name="prbo"/> *Larks - shore lark<ref name="prbo"/> - western meadowlark<ref name="prbo"/> *Loons - black-throated loon<ref name="suttoncenter">[http://www.suttoncenter.org/1993_Reinking_and_Howell_Arctic_Loon.pdf Sutton Center] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080707031834/http://www.suttoncenter.org/1993_Reinking_and_Howell_Arctic_Loon.pdf |date=7 July 2008 }}</ref> - common loon<ref name="prbo"/> - Pacific loon<ref name="prbo"/> - red-throated loon<ref name="prbo"/> *Owls - barn owl<ref name="prbo"/> - burrowing owl<ref name="prbo"/> - short-eared owl<ref name="prbo"/> *Pelicans - brown pelican<ref name="adampaul"/><ref name="prl"/><ref name="edelstein"/> - great white pelican<ref name="prbo"/> *Phoebes - black phoebe<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="prl"/> - Say's phoebe<ref name="prbo"/> *Pipits - buff-bellied pipit<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="edelstein"/> *Plovers - grey plover<ref name="adampaul"/> - western snowy plover<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="prl"/><ref name="edelstein"/><ref name="rockskipper"/> - killdeer<ref name="guanlao"/> (The western snowy plover is considered "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act.)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Valentino |first=Silas |date=2022-06-02 |title=Access to Point Reyes beach denied so plover birds can thrive |url=https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/Point-Reyes-beach-closed-for-summer-17215492.php |access-date=2022-06-03 |work=SFGATE |language=en-US}}</ref> *Quail<ref name="hiker"/><ref name="prbo"/><ref name="guanlao"/><ref name="rockskipper">[http://rockskipper.wordpress.com/2009/07/28/abbotts-lagoon-at-point-reyes-national-seashore/ Rockskipper]</ref> *Rails - American coot<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="prl">[http://www.ptreyeslight.com/cgi/news_archive_2008.pl?record=275 Point Reyes Light]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> - Virginia rail<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="prl"/> *Raven<ref name="prbo"/> *Sandpipers - greater yellowlegs<ref name="edelstein"/> - marbled godwit<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="adampaul"/> - sanderling<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="adampaul"/><ref name="prl"/><ref name="edelstein"/> - willet<ref name="prbo"/> - Wilson's snipe<ref name="prl"/> *Sparrows - fox sparrow<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="edelstein"/> - golden-crowned sparrow<ref name="prbo"/> - grasshopper sparrow<ref name="prbo"/> - Savannah sparrow<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="adampaul"/> - song sparrow<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="guanlao"/><ref name="prl"/> - spotted towhee<ref name="prbo"/> - white-crowned sparrow<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="guanlao"/><ref name="prl"/> *Swallows - barn swallow<ref name="prbo"/> - cliff swallow<ref name="prbo"/> - northern rough-winged swallow<ref name="prbo"/> - tree swallow<ref name="prbo"/> - violet-green swallow<ref name="prbo"/> *Swans - trumpeter swan<ref name="fog">[http://fog.ccsf.org/~jmorlan/cbrcswan.htm Fog] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829172026/http://fog.ccsf.org/~jmorlan/cbrcswan.htm |date=29 August 2008 }}</ref> - tundra swan<ref name="biohere"/> *Terns - Caspian tern<ref name="prbo"/> - elegant tern<ref name="prbo"/> *Thrushes - western bluebird<ref name="prbo"/> *Vulture<ref name="prbo"/> *Warblers - common yellowthroat<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="guanlao"/> - ruby-crowned kinglet<ref name="prbo"/> - yellow-rumped warbler<ref name="prbo"/><ref name="prl"/><ref name="edelstein"/> *Woodpeckers - northern flicker<ref name="prbo"/> *Wrens - Bewick's wren<ref name="prbo"/> - marsh wren<ref name="prbo"/> *Wrentit<ref name="prbo"/>

==Flora== Abbotts Lagoon is the location of the single remaining natural population of the endangered plant species Sonoma spineflower (''Chorizanthe valida'').<ref>USFWS. [http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/five_year_review/doc3558.pdf ''Chorizanthe valida'' Five-year Review.] August 2010.</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKCSXzlpMps River otter in Abbotts Lagoon ] * [https://www.calflora.org/app/ipl/ipx?loc_id=gpi250 Abbotts Lagoon: Calflora Great Places to View Native Plants]

Category:Lagoons of Marin County, California Category:Lagoons of California Category:Wetlands of the San Francisco Bay Area