Shoreline Park
15 March 2008
Mountain View, CA
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I didn't have anybody lined up to go hiking with me today, and it's a good thing.
We're in a major crunch at work, so I needed to take care of some stuff (mmmm...
telecommuting!) before going hiking. Thus, I was late getting out of the house.
The sky was mostly clear, with a few puffies around the edges, and the edges of my neighbor's wood-shingle garage roof were still dripping with the overnight rain. Why did I care? Well, dripping rain means that dirt trails would be muddy trails. Then I checked the weather radar and saw that there was a finite possibility of sprinkles. So, since I'd been to Shoreline a few weeks ago without photos, I thought this would be a fine opportunity to take a few. Oy! I took 244! Just short of 1 GB in about 3 hours. I've gotta get that shutter finger under control. |
I started at the "Kite Parking Lot." It's not called this because it's home to a bunch of Black Shouldered Kites (yes, it's a bird). It's because it's a big festival parking lot and is frequently used during the day by folks flying their kites. There were a half-dozen of these bushy trees between the parking lot and the perimeter road. I have no clue what they are if anyone wants to educate me. |
Just the other side of the bushes is an interpretive trail with the occasional sign. This one has a lovely map of the trails and closed areas. The bird on the sign is a Great Egret, but I didn't see any today. |
Last week, at Edgewood Park, we saw Redstem Storksbills. This week we have Whitestem Storksbills. Yes, it's another alien species. Shoreline isn't about eradicating aliens. Shoreline is more about outdoor recreation. |
Here's another alien species, English Plantain. Those nobby things are the flower heads. They may not be particularly attractive to you, but butterflies like them and the leaves are yummy to the butterfly larvae. |
Don't know what the tree is, but it sure does have some funky seed pods. |
The folks at Shoreline have set aside quite a bit of its acreage as a protected habitat, mostly for the Burrowing Owl. I've been out there in late summer and I've seen the owls. Apparently there are other ground-nesters (as opposed to in-ground nesters and above- ground nesters) that use the area, too. I saw a LOT of Western Meadowlarks today -- ground nesters! |
Oh, look! Another opportunity to "Name That Sparrow!" I'm thinking maybe a juvenile White Crowned Sparrow what with the clear breast and the vast numbers of adult males I've seen around. But I'm open to correction. |
I know this is a Ceanothus (also known as California Wild Lilac) and I think the birdie perched in the top is a Song Sparrow. The Ceanothus is variety 'Ray Hartman.' I know that because it was recently planted and still had it's tag. :-) It looks like Shoreline is trying to repopulate the landscape with California natives. There were quite a number of ceanothus, quite a few Prunus lyonii, and several Cercis occidentalis (also known as Western Redbud). |
This little thing was drinking at a puddle next to the trail, just waiting for me to take its picture. |
This California Towhee was scratching around in the dirt and weeds. If you've never seen one in your yard, you are either using too many toxic chemicals or not paying attention. Have you ever swept the walkway by the flower bed only to come back the next day and see half your mulch spread across the walk? Thank a towhee! (Or maybe a bunch of sparrows, but the towhees are much better at it.) |
I don't know what the bush is, but I'm thinking that the bird is a Savannah Sparrow because of the streaked breast and the yellow around his face. |
Here's a small branch showing the red buds (and new leaves) of the -- you got it -- Western Redbud. You might see these when driving along 280 in the spring (like right now) because they are big, bright pink balls of bright pink. Oh, the big lumps of bright blue along 280 are ceanothus. |
Speaking of Ceanothus... Here's a shot of a fairly new planting. |
The field guides call this alien species "Bermuda Sorrel." They also call it Oxalis pes-caprae. When we were growing up, all the kids called it "sour grass" because we'd pick the flowers (with the whole stem) and chew on the stem for the sour, lemon-y taste. If it arrives in your garden, you're likely to start (correctly) thinking of it as an invasive alien species. |
I spotted this Western Meadowlark sitting on a railing. He never would turn around to show me the big, black 'V' on his bright yellow chest, but still... His song is very sweet and fairly loud. If you know what a European Starling is, this guy is shaped very much like that with a long beak and a stubby tail. |
Another sign on the interpretive trail. This one is where you are looking out over the salt ponds and features a bunch of American White Pelicans, tho they weren't present today. But soon! |
Yet another interpretive sign. This one is all about the burrowing owls for which they've set aside space. The sign above that proclaims "sensitive wildlife area" is mostly for these little guys. |
There are lots and lots of Canada Geese at Shoreline, mostly because they have the golf course to graze on, but this guy was flying by at the right time. |
A couple of White Crowned Sparrows watching me from still-bare branches. |
This Northern Harrier came zipping past me before I noticed him, so I only got a picture of him flying away. But it does show off the distinctive white patch on his rump. Harriers cruise low over fields looking for rodents (primarily) to snack on. In this case, he spooked a pair of Canada Geese that were grazing on the other side of a hillock. |
Another pair of new-to-me duck-like substances: Mr. & Mrs. Gadwall. |
It's kinda challenging to take a picture of the shadow side of a white bird against a gray sky with the sun behind it, but this is the best of a series of three of this Snowy Egret making a turn to glide in for a landing. |
Yes, yes. I know I keep posting pictures of Green Winged Teal, but this is the best yet in terms of showing off all his markings. |
A few weeks ago I hiked on the northern-most edge of Shoreline where it melds with Palo Alto Baylands Natural Preserve. Today I'm at the southern-most edge of Shoreline where it melds with the Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh Trail. So, as I mentioned in an earlier posting, you can see that a lot of different agencies have been going to great lengths to try to protect the shores of the bay and keep them available for public access. |
It was a long shot because Black Phoebes are kinda shy, but I caught this one scouting for flying insects from this fence post perch. I have a soft spot for Phoebes (pronounced 'feebee') because they keep my backyard (and, therefore, house) fairly free of flies. When I had a dog who spent her days and nights mining the back yard, the flies started arriving in droves! The next spring I put in a small water feature. The Phoebes arrived for the water and stayed for the bugs. And, actually, that's the case with a number of other birds who glean bugs off my bushes. |
Oooh! Red Tail Hawk! |