Hamilton to Las Gallinas Ponds - Feb. 17, 2014

Walking Distance: 4 miles (estimate)
Walking Time: 2 hrs., 8 min. (2:05 - 4:13 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Parking lot, end of Hamilton Ave.

In this late afternoon walk, I got lost once, but I did reach Las Gallinas area eventually.

The ponds are part of the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District, and are a rich haven for birds and wildlife. They're a great place to take bird photos.

Trails on this walk ranted from newly rolled, wide packed dirt and gravel to more narrow dirt trail with very short stretches of asphalt. Access can be a bit confusing if you're coming from the north.

I started this walk from a parking lot (near a playing field area—Palmisano Community Play Park) near the SE end of Hangar Ave./Calienta Real, at the south end of the old Hamilton Air Force Base in Novato. From here I headed south along the Bay. This section of trail opened recently, and was newly rolled, and nice and broad; however, it narrowed further south.

I had to cross through an area that included a small section of trail that was still "planned" (shown as a dotted line on the Bay Trail map). However, unaware of this, I continued to walk until I reached some hills and a golf course, and eventually found my way around the golf course to a road and to Las Gallinas Ponds entrance.

There were some nice views of Mt. Tamalpais on the way. And winter rains afforded some refreshing green areas.

I enjoyed seeing the solar collectors (arrays) near Las Gallinas Ponds. Next time, I'll get here earlier to see more birds up close. Winter days end too quickly.

Wildlife Sightings:
7 white pelicans; 1 white swan; 32 little brown jobs (LBJs), mostly sparrows; 3 black-necked stilts; 6 turkey vultures; 5 Canada geese; 16 ducks (mallard pair, 6 shovelers, others); 1 phoebe; 2 swifts/swallows (closer to black and white - not orange and blue); 1 hawk/bird of prey, 1 Harrier with white rump patch; 1 snowy egret, 1 great egret; 2 balls (yellow bowling ball + 1 rubber ball); 2 crows

South Hamilton Park, Novato - April 25, 2010

Walking Distance: 2 miles
Walking Time: 56 min. (5:23 - 6:19 p.m.)
Start and End Point: South Hamilton Park, parking lot, end of Hangar Ave., Novato, CA

Yesterday I walked the northern end of this segment of Bay Trail (Vista Trail/Reservoir Hill, or the continuation of the red line shown on map to the right). Today I covered the southern portion of this red line (shown on map) near the Hamilton Wetlands (in an area that was, years ago, Hamilton Air Force Base). Old hangars that once contained aircraft have been transformed into office, fitness, library and other spaces.

You never know what strange concentrations of wildlife you'll see walking the bay. At the south end of this trail was an area of cracked and dry mud, that had become a graveyard for a large number of tennis, softball, hardball, whiffle, and other balls.

As I walked north,  shallow areas of water provided good feeding areas for ducks and avocets, bent low, sweeping their beaks back and forth. In one spot, I saw an avocet chasing away a few ducks. Competition for briny treats, or breeding anxiety, I can only guess.

The top of the wall that divided the trail from the Bay provided a great place for lizards to bask in the sun.


The barn swallows seemed quite active this week. I found myself hoping they would swoop around and hoover up all the mosquitos that are starting to appear in some areas.

Wildlife Sightings:
10 barn swallows; 20 balls; 16 American Avocets; 8 ducks; 1 blue jay; 3 lizards on top of wall; 3 crows; 3 little brown jobs (LBJs); 3 clouds of gnats