02/25 - Pacheco Marsh

 

There was a big group (14) on a gray day after a rainy night and misty early morning.

The air was fresh and the marsh trails are well graded and drained so walking was good. LOTS of birds, some like the egrets and Canada Geese were easy to identify. "Merlin" heard marsh wrens, song sparrows, common yellowthroat and others. We definitely id'd two of the many raptors: an osprey and a northern harrier AKA marsh hawk. There was a pair of swans, too, according to folks with good binoculars. 2.8 mi

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/2550CSjm2x

02/18 - Contra Costa Canal

 

Only four of us braved the break in the storms to get out and move. We walked from the parking lot by the dog park at Heather Farms along the Canal Trail as far as the 1st Ave crossing, then returned. That gave us a 3 mile walk with no rain!!

Our timing was good as the clouds filled in and within an hour after we were back to the cars it was wet again.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/q285368e09

February 04 and 11

 02/04 - From Redwood to Huckleberry and back

It was a great day for hiking, but smazy it the distance. We started from the Skyline entrance to Redwood RP and walked to Huckleberry. It really was beginning to look and feel like spring with seedlings and a few early flowers. The "out" route was along the higher path and we returned via the lower path. Everyone agreed it felt much longer than the map distance of 3.5 miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/v9uwX5vFF8

 02/11 - No hike, rain at last!