Ravenswood SF2 - Dec. 28, '11

Walking Distance: 1.4 mi.
Walking Time: 1 hr., 00 min. (4:24 - 5:24 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Parking area, west end of Dumbarton Bridge; Menlo Park, CA

I found a place to park -- among the remaining traces and trappings of construction -- at the foot of the Dumbarton Bridge (Menlo Park end). I walked south, past the Cargill keep out signs on one side, along a fairly new, packed dirt, short spur trail (shown as a red line on the Bay Trail map).

I enjoyed scenic views of the Bay to the East, and the Dumbarton Bridge arching up and over, toward the East Bay. And a bit further south was the old Dumbarton bridge, still mostly intact.


Interpretive signs along this trail are yet to be completely installed. But, there were enough signs to get the drift of the work that had been done in the way of habitat restoration in this area, part of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

This Ravenswood "SF2" section of trail turned slightly right/west until it came to an end at a closed gate/fence. I then walked back the way I'd come.

From this trail one can spot several man made islands that now serve as nesting grounds for wild birds.

It was a great evening for sunset watching. This area was far enough out into the baylands, so that there were no buildings to block the view.
Golden light that made everything beautiful -- even some weeds highlighted against a board wall. Beautiful light is undeniable.

Wildlife Sightings:
1 great blue heron; 8 little brown jobs (LBJs); 2 snowy egrets, 1 great egret; 71 unidentified brownish shorebirds (UBBs) + 20 little sandpipers + 16 willets; 63 ducks; 9 sea gulls; 44 American Avocets; 1 kite (bird) hovering in distance; 2 cormorants; 1 Western/Clarks grebe

Ravenswood, Palo Alto - Dec. 26, '11

Walking Distance: 3.0 mi.
Walking Time: 1 hr., 23 min. (9:40 - 11:03 a.m.)
Start and End Point: Public parking lot, Baylands Athletic Center, Palo Alto, CA

Today's walk in the Palo Alto Baylands -- along a combination asphalt and packed dirt trail (shown as a red line on the Bay Trail map) in East Palo Alto/Ravenswood South trail -- was cut short due to a closed section in trail.


There was a slight overlap with a previous walk when I began this walk from the parking lot at the Baylands Athletic Center (at the end of Geng Road, off Embarcadero) and journeyed north to the San Francisquito Creek Trail toward Ravenswood.

I walked northish, following the combined bicycle/pedestrian asphalt trail - over a bridge, passing a golf course to the right/east. As is customary in this area, Canada geese had taken up residence on the course. I continued along a packed dirt/gravel, which narrowed further until this packed dirt path led to a fence with a "closed" sign/gate. The Ravenswood South trail was temporarily closed for construction around Cooley Landing (peninsula). This section was estimated to be re-opened sometime in the summer of 2012.

Unfortunately, I forgot my camera; so the only two pictures that I have, of this somewhat drab winter landscape -- on a somewhat hazy day, full of palette grays and browns -- were taken two days before today's walk, when the sun was shining.

Wildlife Sightings:
77 little brown jobs (LBJs); 45 Canada geese; 9 crows; 7 sea gulls; 32 ducks; 13 coots; 2 snowy egrets, 1 great egret; 10 unidentified brownish shorebirds (UBBs); 25 pigeons; 1 black cat (status unclear); 1 hawk (red-tailed?) on tower; 4 black-necked stilts; 1 blue jay; 1 hummingbird