Trip to Baylands/Shoreline

A little over a week ago, a couple of friends and I took an afternoon "hike" (OK, it was more of a stroll or amble) in the area where the Palo Alto Baylands meets Shoreline Park. I don't usually do photo-hikes in the afternoon (or late afternoon). I usually go out in the early morning. 

As it turns out, the morning really is a better time. That afternoon, the wind was blowing and gusting and keeping us from being able to hold still long enough to get truly steady shots of birds or anything else. We even tried leaning against a signpost to steady ourselves, but the wind was causing the post to vibrate adding yet another component to the unsteadiness of photos. But I still managed to get a couple of shots.

Quite a few terns (Forster's?) were alternating between their encampment on an island in the Charleston Slough and the creek on the other side of the levy.

Also on the creek side of the levy was a small flock of American White Pelicans who were mostly bathing and preening.

Of course, there were seagulls and other shorebirds lurking amongst the pelis. And the occasional pelican wheeled through the sky.

Over on the Shoreline side of things, down in the Coast Casey Forebay, we found a few wading birds such as this Black-Necked Stilt

and these American Avocets.

You know, it's amazing how very blustery it was up on the levies and how very calm it was down in the forebay. Still, trying to take photos of the forebay from up on the levy made it quite challenging to remain standing!

On a California native plant side-note, the Blue Elderberry trees along both sides of the levy were heavy with ripe and ripening berries. I sampled several and they were tasty. Not 2-die-4 tasty, but still...  Mark tasted them, but didn't think much of them. Chris wouldn't even try them. Like someone else I know, he doesn't eat "random plants."  :-)

But it makes me look forward to the time when all the Elderberries on my own tree will start ripening. And I'm highly amused that the tree continues to put on fresh buds and blossoms!