Land of milk and honey

· San Francisco

This is one of our more remote hikes, which is largely in the rolling, coastal, and windy hills. However, there is a secret forest on the way that is totally unexpected and is full of life. Many of the birds we saw were in the forest. Drakes Estero Trailhead is a way out and a little further than we usually go. It's also unusual because it is there and back, and all the loops are much too large and need two cars to facilitate. That said, it's a different kind of beautiful than our other hikes, and we love to go back when we can.

Purple needlegrass (Stipa pulchra) (I think) is the most widespread native perennial bunchgrass found in California.
Cows are all around on this walk
Flowers galore
Low tide
Creatures only available for viewing at very low tide
Many Great Blue Herons
and river otters dueling for fish
We have reached the turnoff
Lunch spot hunkered down behind bushes to get out of the wind.

We were serenaded by a lunchtime music show by white-crowned sparrows. Take a listen and just imagine:

Honey bees are swarming!
Virginia Rail (new bird)
Western Tussock Moth (Orgyia vetusta) (we think)
California-style beach roses.
Marsh on the edge of the magic forest

Another perfect day that ended with everyone at Parkside for a convivial dinner.

Sending oodles of love,

Tawnia

Bird List - 50 species

Canada Goose
California Quail
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove
Anna's Hummingbird
Virginia Rail
Killdeer
Western Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
American White Pelican
Brown Pelican
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Steller's Jay
California Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Wrentit
Pygmy Nuthatch
Pacific Wren
Bewick's Wren
European Starling
Western Bluebird
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
House Finch
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
California Towhee
Spotted Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler