Sonoma Baylands Tidal Marsh - April 29, 2010

Walking Distance: 3.1 miles
Walking Time: 1 hr., 36 min. 6:13 - 7:49 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Public parking area (Public Shore spots); Sonoma Baylands Tidal Marsh area, CA

Today, I barely made it back to the car by sunset, because I was enjoying sweeping views along this long straight trail (red line on map) by the bay, and interesting clouds, a faint half rainbow (shown), lots of wildflowers, birds, and nice "golden hour" light and colors.

The Bay Area is filled with people; however, as is often the case, I saw one other person on this trail, at the very beginning. So, it was very quiet and peaceful. The afternoon breeze settled down about 1/2 hour before dark.

The path itself was surrounded by grasses and wildflowers, and was hard to walk through in spots. However, I think it was because it was fairly overgrown that I saw two mice -- one (unfortunately) recently deceased.

Wildlife Sightings:
22 red-winged blackbirds; 13 ducks; 2 killdeer (on path); 5 swallows; 3 live rabbits (+ 1 deceased); 17 little brown jobs (LBJs); 100 unidentified brownish and brownish/white shorebirds out in or flying around the mudflats; several spots with little brownish ground flies; 1 ladybug; 1 kite; 2 orange and brown butterflies/moths; 1 dead mouse + 1 live one; 1 crow; and 1 Canada goose.

Hamilton Drive to Hwy 37 - April 29, 2010

Walking Distance: 2 miles (estimate)
Walking Time: 1 hr., 19 min. (4:09 - 5:28 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Parked on street (Hamilton Drive), Novato, CA

It took me awhile to find this bit of trail (shown as red line on map) in northern Marin County. I walked north, up Hamilton Drive, to a point where the road made almost a 90 degree turn to the Right (right after the Starry Night Winery, and California Rice Oil across the street). At this point, I made a 90-degree Left turn, onto a paved asphalt bikepath and walking trail. I followed this trail (which ran roughly parallel to the railroad tracks and Highway 101 North), to Highway 37.

I walked underneath Highway 37 (where I saw many mud-daubed birds nests (shown), clinging to the underside of the freeway overpass).

After walking down (Hanna Ranch?) Road, to the end of the freeway entrance area (shown), as far as I could go, I turned around and walked back the way I'd come.


Wildlife Sightings:
19 little brown jobs (LBJs); 1 bumblebee; 3 bicyclists; 2 lizards (plus a few blurs in the bushes that I suspect were additional lizards, but I can't be sure); 12 barn swallows; 5 red-winged blackbirds; 4 ducks; 1 couch; 1 turkey vulture; 1 mockingbird; 1 dove; and 3 unidentified flying bugs.

Pacheco Pond, Bel Marin Keys - April 25, 2010

Walking Distance: 2.6 miles (2 segments combined)
Walking Time: 1 hr., 13 min. walking time (6:50 - 7:42 p.m. and 7:47 - 8:08 p.m.)
Start and End Points: 1.) Pacheco Pond Wildlife Protection Area parking lot; 2.) street parking near 4 Commercial Blvd., near Bel Marin Keys Blvd., Novato, CA

Starting at Pacheco Pond, I worked my way west along Bel Marin Keys (double yellow lines on map). I was able to photograph a lizard enjoying the last few moments of sun on a rock by the pond. And I was able to take pictures of a swan (shown) and some pairs of Canada geese (shown in a blurry picture to the right with four goslings, although the latter are almost impossible to see in this picture). The presence of goslings probably explains why the Canada geese were chasing away the swan.

As dusk approached, it was time for the mosquitos to come out at Pacheco Pond, particularly at the northeast end. I found myself walking and swatting at the same time. To those in passing cars, I'm sure I looked like a very strange person.

By the time I reached the commercial end of Bel Marin Keys Blvd., it was getting dark. I walked by Cafe Bowl of Sol, Pug Snuggly, Who Does Your Dog, and other fun small businesses, that were closed for the evening.  And I passed by Arroyo San Jose (creek shown).

I finished today's walk when I hiked to the top of the overpass that was part of the Highway 101 interchange, and looked around to find the trail (beginning of short red line shown on map, heading north). However, all I could see was some overgrown railroad tracks below. Perhaps this is the trail? I'll have to come back later to find out.

Wildlife Sightings:
1 lizard on rock; 1 dove; 24 mosquitos (1 was biting my hand!); 5 barn swallows; 10 Canada geese + 4 goslings; 1 large white swan; 7 ducks; 3 clouds of gnats; 6 red-winged blackbirds; 9 little brown jobs (LBJs); 1 great egret; 2 crows; and 1 tennis ball.

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

Road to Las Gallinas Ponds - Apr. 25, 2010

Walking Distance: 1.1 miles (estimate)
Walking Time: 42 min. (4:25 - 5:07 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Public parking area, side of road, San Rafael, CA

Today (Sunday) I returned to finish up a segment of roadway (double yellow lines on right half of map shown) that I missed on Friday.  This paved, tail end of Smith Ranch Road led to the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitation District Wildlife Ponds. I also walked into the Ponds area again for a short distance.  After all the rainy weather we've had this spring, at 4:30 p.m. the sun felt hot enough to incinerate me and the surrounding wildflowers. However, all the lizards were out, basking in the warmth. And for every lizard that I saw, I could hear a few more skittering away through the grass. The cows grazing in the distance seemed unbothered by life; perhaps these were the happy California cows from the television commercials.

Wildlife Sightings:
3 turkey vultures; 4 little brown jobs (LBJs); 1 squirrel; 4 butterflies; 6 lizards; 1 ladybug; 1 (dead) snake; 5 unidentified flying bugs (UFBs); 7 crows; 15 barn swallows; 2 mockingbirds; and 1 quail in tree.