Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge
This morning it was foggy but we still decided to go on the hike we had planned at the Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge. You may not know where this is so I will explain. At the southern end of the San Francisco Bay there are a lot of salt ponds owned by Cargill Salt. These salt ponds attract a lot of seabirds and the wildlife refuge was set up to protect these wetlands and wildlife. There are two places to access Don Edwards, one on the peninsula at Alviso and one on the east bay just to the south of the Dumbarton Bridge. Our expedition today is to the latter. (Click on the images for larger versions)
It is a great place to visit at any time of the year. Be careful though during the spring nesting season because the parent birds are likely to dive bomb you. Today we are hoping to see flocks of birds gathering in preparation for their winter migration.
Our route took us on Highway 87 to 101. Surprisingly the fog had dispersed over downtown San Jose and there was the sun. The temperature though remained at 46 degrees. Passing Moffat Field the sun was still shining but it was hazy. Could not see the east side of the bay at all. Come on now, haze is for the summer time and we are now officially into winter time.
We turned off 101 onto University, driving past Ikea and then through East Palo Alto towards the Dumbarton Bridge. This area used to be really run down but it is slowly improving.
The fog appeareard again. As we turned onto Highway 84, we entered the mist. The bridge was shrouded but as we drove over the top of the bridge the sun was visible to my right. Back on lower ground and the fog was thick but I could see the salt ponds as we get closer. No birds though, Maybe they had already migrated.
We were surprised to find so many cars in the Visitors’ Center car park when we arrived. Lots of folks must have had the same urge to be outside. The Visitors’ Center is open Tuesdays to Sunday 10 am – 5 pm.
We started walking on the Tidelands Trail. Since our last visit, which must have been at least two years ago, there had been quite a few changes. Along the first part of the trail, some of the plants have been identified with precise and interesting descriptions. The Learning Center has also been much improved.
Just before we turned onto the wooden boardwalk we met another photographer who had already taken quite a few shots and he proudly showed us some. They were good.
Apart from the regular boom of the fog horn and the distant sound of the traffic crossing the bridge, all was quiet. All the large bolts on the boardwalk posts were shrouded in cobwebs and covered in droplets of water. Very pretty I stood and gazed into the water. It was murky and moving very slowly. An occasional bubble rose the surface.
Ahead I saw Great White Egret standing on the bank. It was beautiful. Slowly it moved, reaching out its neck. I stood and watched, fascinated and hardly daring to move myself so it was not disturbed, though I’m sure it knew I was there. Eventually it flew away, gliding majestically over the boardwalk.
December 01 2008 | Special Places | No Comments »
