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.
At the end of the boardwalk I noticed more changes. Obviously there was dredging work going on. All along the sides of the levee, there was a 4 foot mound of mud. Trying to climb this mud resulted in my boots becoming clogged. This was the Newark Trail and to the right it had been blocked up with a huge pile of mud and the levee is closed while the work goes on. There used to be a little dock here but it had gone. Maybe it will be replaced when the work is finished.
The little duck hunters cabin was still there thank goodness and I stopped to read the sign outside. It was built by a man called Joe Pine of Niles (at least that what I think his name was – I took a picture of the sign but my flash card is defunct so I can’t download the photos), and was in use until the 1960′s. Now it is boarded up. Duck hunting is still enjoyed here and it is well regulated.
We finally saw some birds. First of all some black and white ducks. Further on large flocks of seabirds out on the water. Not sure what they were but I’m hoping to be able to identify them when I see Tom’s photos.
At 9 the sun began to break through and the fog slowly started to disperse. Maybe it will be a sunny day latter.
There were a few other people around, mainly dog walkers. In the distance I could hear childrens’ voices but where they were was difficult to ascertain.
Tom is busy taking photos of another Great White Egret, or maybe it is the same one I watched earlier, leaving his
tripod abandoned on the path as he attempted to get closer. Ahead I could see the Great White Egret perched on another boardwalk. It took off and landed on the other side. We kept our eyes on it. We were able to get really close as the Great White Egret had its eye on breakfast. For fifteen minutes it remained poised, almost motionless with just the occasional movement as it kept its eyes on his prey. At one point its neck was extended so far I thought it would topple over. We kept just as still not wanting to disturb it and it felt as if we were holding our breath the whole time. Eventually it struck but was unsuccessful. All that effort and no breakfast.
It took half an hour for us to walk across the boardwalk so engrossed were we in watching the bird and in that time the fog had more or less gone and it was indeed a sunny day. We could even see the Dumbarton Bridge. We continued on the Tidelands Trail up the slope and along the side of the hill back to the Visitors Center and Don Edwards was spread out before us in all its glory. On the surface it may look bleak and dreary but there is truly a lot to see and enjoy.
Talking about breakfast, we were hungry and it was time to vamoose.
Related posts:
- Alviso – Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge
- Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge
- Coyote Hills Regional Park
- Upcoming Plans
- Pinnacles National Monument
December 01 2008 07:23 pm | Special Places
