November At Ano Nuevo, juvenile elephant seals depart and are replaced by adult males, the biggest usually arriving towards the end of the month. These massive bulls, some weighing up to 5000 lbs or more, arrive in anticipation of the breeding season. In the Central Valley and Delta, Sandhill Cranes, tundra Swans and all varieties of waterfowl arrive at their wintering grounds. At coastal areas like Point Reyes, grebes, loons, sea ducks and other birds of winter start to appear. With the elk rut continuing, November is an excellent time to view this grand drama.
Dominant bulls struggle to keep their harems together while being tested by new rivals.
November is the time to look for pronghorn antelope and herds of mule and white-tailed deer as they congregate in lower elevation areas. In the redwood forests, new ferns and mosses grow as epiphytes along the trunks of certain trees, multiplying with each day's new rain. Streams and rivers fill with water and waterfalls restart after their seasonal pause. Monarch butterflies are wintering along the coast. Thousands can be seen at their favorite roosting spots.