Alameda Creek Trail - Nov. 9, '11

Walking Distance: 2.2 miles
Walking Time: 1 hr., 15 min. (4:02 - 5:17 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Parked near Beard Staging Area, Fremont, CA - East Bay Regional Parks District (EBRPD)

I returned to a segment of Alameda Creek Regional Trail that was closed last month. Happily, it was open today. Thank you to the Alameda Public Works Department who let me know it was open again.

From the Beard Staging Area (end of Beard Road), I walked West on (the south side of) Alameda Creek Trail, under Highway 880 underpass, almost as far as the Alvarado overpass -- where fence had marked closed point previously. I turned around and walked back the same way.

The sun was setting, making it difficult to capture photos that weren't dark and blurry. But, can you recognize this gray blur (bottom right) on the rocks? No, it's not the squirrel. It was one or two gray foxes -- perhaps hunting for ground squirrels. The gray foxes I've seen on my Bay Trail walk have been at dusk, in the south-east portion of the San Francisco Bay. I'm sure they also live elsewhere; but I haven't seen any of their Peninsula or North Bay fox cousins (yet).

Wildlife Sightings:
3 fuzzy caterpillars; 2 crows; 1 black and white cat in creek bed/grass (domestic?); 8 starlings; 2 robins; 8 little brown jobs (LBJs)/finches; 27 Canada geese; 7 sea gulls; 1 hawk/falcon; 2 gray foxes

Alameda Creek Trail - Oct. 16, '11

Walking Distance: .25 mi. + 3.2 mi.
Walking Time: 10 min. + 1 hr., 37 min. (9:26 - 11:03 a.m.)
Start and End Point: Public parking lots 1.) Beard Staging Area; 2.) Parking lot off Eastin (off Union City Blvd., near intersection w/ Lowry); Fremont, CA

This morning I continued my walk along Alameda Creek Regional Trail (shown as two purple lines on the Bay Trail map -- extending east from the Bay), after a brief false start.

I first parked at the Beard Staging Area (parking lot), at the end of Beard Road; and, after walking up to the trail, I almost immediately ran into a fence and a trail closed sign. A trail/levee repair project was apparently running a few days late.  So, I drove further west and re-parked to a location closer to Coyote Hills Regional Park, close to where the official Bay Trail portion (marked with red lines on map) of the Alameda Creek trail is located. This way I could skip over this closed segment, and walk back toward Beard from west to east.

From the East Bay Regional Parks District parking lot (marked with a "P" on map) off Eastin/Union City Boulevard, I walked toward, and then onto, Union City Boulevard (double yellow lines on map), crossing an overpass to the south side of Alameda Creek Trail, and walked east along this paved (asphalt) segment - until I ran into a closed trail sign and fence, marking the west end of this closure. Despite having to turn around, and missing a walk along this short segment, it was still a very nice morning for a walk, punctuated by the honking of low flying Canada geese and the sounds of other birds.


Wildlife Sightings:
3 lizards; 11 pigeons; 9 ducks; 2 great blue herons; 20 white butterflies; 4 fuzzy caterpillars; 1 belted kingfisher; 12 little brown jobs, 2 finches; 33 Canada geese; 3 snowy egrets; 1 dragonfly; 3 blue jays; 2 crows; 3 mockingbirds; 1 turkey vulture; 26 blackbirds/red-winged blackbirds; 1 hawk/kestrel/falcon; 1 true falcon; 17 tiny unidentified brownish shorebirds (UBBs) (sounded a little like killdeers flying off?); 1 lady bug

Alameda Creek - Isherwood - Oct. 11, '11

Walking Distance: 3.1 mi. (estimate)
Walking Time: 1 hr., 42 min. (4:01 - 5:43 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Isherwood Staging Area; East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD); Fremont, CA

From the Isherwood Staging Area, I walked across the overpass/bridge to the south side of the levee trail -- to walk west/northwest on the Alameda Creek Regional Trail (shown as double purple lines on the Bay Trail map).


I walked past the Decoto bridge; and I turned around at the Beard Staging Area/parking lot. I walked back to the Isherwood Staging Area/parking lot the same way. It was nice to have designated parking lots on both ends of today's walk, with a restroom/portable bathrooms.

The signs of a fall day: acorns on the ground; green leaves turning red; lizards on rocks; fuzzy caterpillars; views of Alameda Creek and hills with dried, tawny grass, not yet green after the first rainfall.

Wildlife Sightings:
3 cormorants; 8 lizards; 2 great egrets; 2 snowy egrets; 3 squirrels (2 tree + 1 ground); 68 ducks; 7 white butterflies; 5 coots; 7 fuzzy caterpillars; 4 little brown jobs (LBJs); 7 pigeons; 42 Canada geese; 9 crows; 1 blue jay; 1 great blue heron; 4 turkey vultures (1 on ground, 3 in air)

Alameda Creek - Oct. 9, '11

Walking Distance: 2 miles (estimate)
Walking Time: 1 hr., 35 min. (3:45 - 5:20 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Isherwood Staging Area, Parking Lot; Fremont, CA

This pleasant fall afternoon I continued my walk along the southern side of Alameda Creek Regional Trail. After following this connector trail (shown in purple lines on the Bay Trail map) into the hills of the Niles district of Fremont, I am now headed west, back toward San Francisco Bay.

Today I had the pleasure of taking this short walk from the Isherwood Staging Area parking lot to east of the Sequoia Bridge with my parents. Thanks mom and dad. We crossed over the Isherwood overpass/bridge to the south side of the Alameda Creek trail and walked east to the Sequoia Bridge, then stood on this bridge to gaze down into the Creek to see if we could spot any fish in the water below. I was able to pick out three large (what I believe were) carp.

From the Sequoia Bridge we walked further east, eventually turning around and walking back (west) to the Isherwood Staging Area/parking lot. On the way we spotted a few riders on horseback on the north side of the trail -- which is an easily navigable, broad, packed dirt trail. The south side of the Creek trail was paved (asphalt).

Acorns were on the ground ready to be harvested or buried by squirrels; and v-shaped squadrons of Canada geese were flying low overhead. Afternoon shadows fell more heavily and quickly than last month, but a few lizards lingered on the rocks lining the Creek banks, soaking up the last rays of sunshine. It felt like fall.

Wildlife:
2 great egrets, 3 snowy egrets; 4 lizards; 6 sea gulls; 20 ducks; 3 little brown jobs (LBJs); 24 Canada geese; 4 pigeons; 1 tree squirrel; 42 crows; 1 mockingbird; 2 white butterflies, 2 orange and brown/black butterflies; 2 turkey vultures; 1 hawk; 1 dragonfly; 3 big fish (carp?); 1 crab?

Alameda Creek, Niles - Sept. 17, '11

Walking Distance: 5.9 miles
Walking Time: 2 hrs., 31 min. (1:29 - 4:00 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Public parking lot, Niles Community Park, Niles district of Fremont, CA

Today was a Saturday (a non-work day), which meant I could take a longer walk, during daylight hours. I headed east from Niles Community Park. It was hot in the mid-day sun, but it wasn't quite a "death march" hike. It would have been much more comfortable if I'd remembered to bring some water. I did see a lot more daytime creatures, such as lizards -- some very small -- and a turtle, sunning themselves on rocks.

After walking the Alameda Creek Regional Trail (shown as a pair of solid red lines near the Bay, and a pair of purple lines further east on the Bay Trail map) a few miles at a time for the past month or two, I finally reached the eastern end of this 12-mile Trail -- and walked over the Old Canyon Bridge (built in 1948) from the north to the south side of the trail -- where I walked west on the return trip.

I continued walking a few miles west until I reached the Sequoia Road bridge, where I could cross back over to the north side, and back to Niles Community Park.

The south side of the Alameda Creek Trail was paved (asphalt), whereas large sections of the north side trail were packed dirt. Both are fairly wide, with plenty of room for shared use. Equestrians are encouraged to ride on the north side; however, I saw no sign of horses or horse traffic while I was walking this past week.


There were interesting things to see along the way, including the usual birds (ducks, cormorants, egrets, etc.) a green heron, a turtle, and several large fish (carp?) in Alameda Creek, visible from 40 feet from the trail. These fish were big enough (2 feet long I'm guessing) that I doubt birds fishing along the shore would pick a fight with these guys.

And there were also model mariners races going on in an adjacent pond/lake. All in all, an interesting day for a walk.


Wildlife Sightings:
3 little brown jobs (LBJs); 2 great egrets, 2 snowy egrets; 17 lizards (including 3 tiny ones); 44 ducks; 6 cormorants; 7 orange and brown/black butterflies, 5 white butterflies; 12 black-necked stilts; 5 unidentified brownish shorebirds (UBBs); 3 blue jays; 17 Canada geese; 4 tree squirrels and 3 ground squirrels; 2 grebes/divers; 6 pigeons; 11 dragonflies; 7 coots; 1 turtle; 1 snail; 11 white pelicans; 5 turkey vultures; 4 sea gulls; 5 crows; ~20 large fish (carp?) in water

Alameda Creek, cont. Sept. 16, '11

Walking Distance: 3.9 miles (estimate)
Walking Time: 2 hrs., 3 min. (4:40 - 6:43 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Isherwood Staging Area (off Isherwood Way), Alameda Creek Regional Trail, East Bay Parks Rec. Dept. (EBPRD), Fremont, CA

The walk up/east toward the headwaters of Alameda Creek continued this evening. I walked on the north side of the Alameda Creek Regional Trail, on a (primarily) packed dirt levee path from the Isherwood Staging Area public parking lot up to Niles Community Park (in the Niles district of Fremont) -- where there was a field of small children suited up and practicing football before dark.

Most of this trail is shown as a pair of purple lines (connector trail) on the Bay Trail Map.

After walking east from the Isherwood Way Staging area, and passing relatively near a few houses, the terrain became a bit more undeveloped. Trees, including pepper trees (pink peppercorns), provided intermittent shade.

This was a pleasant, evening walk, with a fair number of dog walkers, bicyclists, walkers and joggers. There were also scenic views of the Quarry Lakes along the way. Although separated from some of these lakes by a wire fence, there was an opportunity to go through a few gates to take a closer look -- and walk parallel to the Bay Trail on a packed dirt path -- for at least a half mile.

There was a steady smattering of birds, especially in the Alameda Creek Channel. In one section of the trail, a large number of turkey vultures circled overhead. A group of vultures group is called a venue, committee, wake, or -- if circling in the air, a kettle.

Regardless of what you call them, I feel a bit uneasy when I see them circling -- knowing they may be closing in on a carcass with their ultra-developed sense of smell. Fortunately, for me, all I could smell was the smell of some hickory smoke and a barbecue wafting over from a cook-out.


Out on the gravel islands in one of the Quarry Lakes, there were visible white specks (birds) of different sizes. I later determined that these "specks" included white pelicans, egrets and sea gulls. I was able to take a few pictures of these small lakes by holding my camera through or over sections of wire/barbed wire fence.

The railroad/rail bridges were marked with interesting graffiti art, and carried the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) trains; a few whooshed by during the time I was walking back and forth.

Wildlife Sightings:
2 blue jays; 28 ducks; 11 little brown jobs (LBJs); 56 crows; 2 butterflies (orange and brown/blk); 7 black-necked stilts; 5 snowy egrets, 1 great egret; 5 unidentified brownish shorebirds (UBBs); 3 dragonflies; 5 killdeer; 2 white pelicans; 3 cormorants (+ 2 others diving birds?); 5 turkey vultures; 1 dove; 5 Canada geese; 22 sea gulls 

Alameda Creek - Sept. 13, '11

Walking Distance: 4.1 miles
Walking Time: 1 hr., 30 min. (5:58 - 7:28 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Street parking on Arizona St. (and Copa Del Oro), Union City, CA

This evening I continued to work my way up the Alameda Creek Regional Trail. I started at Arizona Street in Union City - near a small bridge over the creek, where I'd left off last week.

I walked east on the paved (asphalt) trail (shown as purple lines on the Bay Trail map). Some parts of this trail (underpasses) were packed dirt, but it was a nice broad trail for shared foot and bicycle traffic.

Alameda Creek is actually a large/broad creek bed that is bolstered with rocks on either side in many places. The rocks are less intrusive than walls of solid concrete and allow for some hiding places for lizards, ground squirrels and other small living things, and allow winter rains to percolate a bit more slowly into the ground I would imagine.

There is a slightly elevated path on both sides of Alameda Creek, and several over- and under-pass crossings. I saw several walkers, runners, bicycle riders, and dogs out for a walk with their owners this evening on both sides of the creek channel, and a few local denizens, like this squirrel up on a fence.

Wildlife Sightings:
7 dragonflies; 14 little brown jobs (LBJs); sound of woodpecker in tree, but couldn't see it; 1 mockingbird; 1 blue jay; 10 Canada geese; 2 hummingbirds; 1 black-crowned night heron; 2 crows; 16 sea gulls; 6 starlings; 4 red-winged blackbirds; 12 pigeons; 2 fuzzy caterpillars; 7 ducks; 1 bumblebee; 1 ground squirrel; 1 great egret

Alameda Creek, cont. - Sept. 8, 2011

Walking Distance: 3.6 miles
Walking Time: 1 hr., 43 min. (5:43 - 7:26 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Peregrine Way and Falcon Dr., Fremont, CA

This evening I walked another section of the Alameda Creek Regional Trail and, in the process, went from Union City to Fremont and back to the Union City area again. I started in an adjacent residential block, and followed a dirt path up to a short hill to get to this trail. (The eastern section of this trail is shown as a purple, solid line/trail on the Bay Trail Map.)

While not technically part of the Bay Trail, I'm following this trail toward Niles Canyon area because I following Alameda Creek further up into the hills to its source looked interesting, and also because a section of the Alameda Creek trail down toward Coyote Hills was closed until next month.

I found out later in the walk this evening that I was walking on a closed section here as well. Oops. What was my first clue? Probably the recently rearranged dirt and the earth movers. I failed to see the closed trail sign, as I entered this trail mid-way through this section.

However, once started, not easily stopped. So, I continued east to a section of the Alameda Creek trail that was open -- and followed this trail until a bridge, near the intersection of Arizona St. and Copa del Oro, in Union City.

Along the way I stopped to take some pictures under the Highway 880 underpass; not something I would normally see if I were driving along on top. This area, with pillars reflected in the creek, had the stillness of a cathedral.

The first leaves are starting to turn colors, a sure sign that summer is in retreat. I'll miss the light that has made evening walks possible in the past several months.

On the wildlife front, I saw a hawk; some lizards soaking up the last rays of sun on the rocky creek bank; swallows darting about before the sun slipped below the trees; and a housecat stalking a duck. I couldn't resist warning the duck.

Wildlife Sightings:
6 swallows; 5 little brown jobs (LBJs); 1 ground squirrels; 1 hawk/kestrel/; 3 pigeons; 22 Canada geese; 1 dove; 1 blue jay; 1 ball; 6 lizards; 2 dragonflies; 3 crows; 11 ducks; 1 orange and brown butterfly; 1 cat (I'm guessing it was a domestic cat)

Alameda Creek NE - Sept. 5, '11

Walking Distance: 1.7 mi.
Walking Time: 1 hr., 10 min. (4:38 - 5:48 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Public Parking lot, Alameda Creek Regional Trail, off Union City Blvd./Lowry Rd., Union City, CA

The bulk of my round-the-bay-revolution is drawing to a close this month (Sept. '11); however, today I revisited Alameda Creek Regional Trail to see if the piece on the south side of the Alameda Flood Control Channel near/in Coyote Hills Regional Park (solid red line on map) was open. It was still closed due to some construction, so a friend and I walked an alternate segment -- on the North side of this trail (shown as a solid purple line on the Bay Trail map).

We started and ended our walk, on this fine Labor Day holiday Monday afternoon, from a public parking lot (located off Union City Blvd. and Lowry Rd.). We climbed up a small embankment up to the trail, and walked northeast toward the trail's end in Niles. We stopped to view some white pelicans, ducks, egrets and other birds in the wide channel bordered by marsh grasses; and we later paused again to gaze upon some mini "rapids" in another section. A snowy egret and a cormorant hovered around the shoals in search of dinner. There is something very relaxing about the sounds of flowing water over rocks.

I plan to return, to finish this purple (connecting) trail -- following the channel, past quarry lakes, up to the base of the hills in the east and the Old (Niles) Canyon Bridge and back.

Wildlife Sightings:
1 lizard; 3 cormorants; 11 ducks; 5 white pelicans; 1 great blue heron; 24 unidentified brownish shorebirds (UBBs); 1 great egret and 4 snowy egrets; 7 pigeons; 2 doves; 1 blue jay; 4 crows, 2 swallows