Redwood Shores - Marine Pkwy - Oct. 7, 2009

Walking Distance: 5.78 miles
Walking Time: 1 hour, 15 min. (4:10 - 6:25 p.m.)
Start & End Point: Parking lot, near intersection of Island Drive & Bridge Parkway (within sight of Oracle buildings)

Today I made three loops in one long walk. First, I walked along the Belmont slough toward the Bay, intending to walk back toward Canvasback Way where I'd finished previously. However, I ended up inadvertently hiking further out into the Bay along the gray dotted line area. This dirt trail eventually curved back around and brought me near where I'd finished a few days ago. I retraced my steps along this trail, and emerged near Salt Court onto Marine Parkway, which turned into Shearwater Parkway, and walked back along Shearwater, past Canvasback Way, as far as Mindanao Drive. I then walked back again to the car, along a different trail along Belmont slough during part of the final stretch. Yes, you're right, this is confusing.

Wildlife Sightings: 5 snowy egrets, 5 great egrets; 44 black-necked stilts; 29 little brown jobs (LBJs); 13 cormorants; 22 ducks; 1 snake (gopher or sharp tailed?) ~13" long; ~42 killdeer; ~ 5 sandpipers; 3 UFO brown shorebirds; 24 crows; 2 rabbits