January and February are prime months for wildlife watching: by sea, air, and land, wild critters are on the move. Catch 'em while you can.

The true bad boys of the beach are back, and they're lookin' for a little lovin'. Every year at this time, elephant seals converge on their favored breeding ground: Año Nuevo State Reserve, 13 miles south of Pescadero on the San Mateo coast. Visit through March and you'll be privy to one of nature's most amazing peep shows: two and a half tons of testosterone-fueled seal vying to be the alpha male among a harem of discerning females. Be forewarned, things can get ugly as the bulls fight for their chosen seal-queen. To see all the commotion, join one of the reserve's guided tours; these daily outings to the rookery get you as close as 25 feet to these behemoths. Bring a camera to capture the, um, action.

TIP: Want to overnight it? Grab a coastal cabin nearby.

Año Nuevo State Reserve is 55 miles south of San Francisco on Highway 1. Reservations are required for guided walks to the rookery. For a map and more information click here.

Each winter millions of birds travel the Pacific Flyway, a major north-south migration route. Cosumnes River Preserve, just north of Lodi in the Central Valley, is a wetlands haven for over 200 species of these travelers, including the marquee draw: 70 percent of the greater sandhill crane population. The big, long-legged sandhill is a darling of the bird-watching world, with an elegant gray body, bright red forehead, and sleek black bill. Your best bet for sandhill viewing is to follow the 1-mile paved/boardwalk loop called the Lost Slough Wetlands Walk to the west side of the preserve. If you don't want to leave the car, stop by the visitor center for a driving-tour brochure of the area, which will show the best spots for crane-viewing by car. Be sure to check out the corner of Desmond and Bruceville Roads; a couple of weeks ago, it was the equivalent of a crane cocktail party.

BONUS: Combine your trip with a visit to Jessie's Grove Winery, part of the Lodi Wine Trail. Located on a huge oak grove, Jessie's grows its own grapes, produces its own wine, and exemplifies Lodi's sophisticated but down-home approach to winemaking. The tasting is complimentary and the Zins (some from 100-year-old vines) are delicious.

To reach Cosumnes River Preserve, exit Twin Cities Rd. off of I-5, just north of Lodi. Head east, then turn right onto Franklin Blvd. Follow Franklin for 1.5 miles to the visitor center. For more information visit cosumnes.org or call 916-684-2816.

Jessie's Grove Winery, 1973 W. Turner Rd., Lodi; 209-368-0880. The winery is 15 miles south of the Cosumnes River Preserve. From I-5 in Lodi, exit Turner Rd.; follow W. Turner Rd. west for 3 miles.

January is a peak time to spot one of the largest mammals on the planet—the gray whale—making its very long migration from the chilly Arctic to balmy Baja California. Bodega Head, just north of Point Reyes, sits high on the tip of a curving thumb-like peninsula and offers two weather-flexible options: On nice weather days, you can hike the coastal trails that lead out from the parking lot; all are fairly short and have great vantage points of the Pacific, where migrating whales just might be breaching and spouting. (Bring a good windbreaker and binoculars.) If the weather's gusty, you can sit in your car and wait for the whales to come to you; arrive early to snag one of the premier parking spots overlooking the ocean. Bring snacks and a thermos of hot cider, and enjoy one of Mother Nature's finest drive-ins. This is big-screen viewing at its best!

Bodega Head, part of Sonoma Coast State Park, is 65 miles north of San Francisco on Highway 1. From the town of Bodega Bay, head west on East Shore Rd. and follow signs to Bodega Head.