Walking Time: 2 hrs., 25 min. (1:47 - 4:12 p.m.) Includes 1 hr. stop at The Nantucket
Start and End Point: Wanda St. and Third Ave., Crockett, CA
Crockett is an interesting walk back in time. The CandH Sugar plant is still the biggest landmark, but there are many old wooden, historic buildings and houses in the town. While not visible/obvious on the Bay Trail map the town has been bisected in the waterfront area by the Alfred Zampa Memorial bridge.I started today's walk in downtown Crockett and walked East to the small Crockett Historic Museum near Rolph Ave. Unfortunately the museum was closed today -- I'll have to come back on a Wednesday or a Saturday when it's open.
From the museum I turned around and walked West, along the railroad tracks to the Nantucket Restaurant (which is located on the Bay side of the train tracks, in an industrial area by the water, and is also accessible by boat).
After a pleasant stop for lunch at the Nantucket, I walked first past a small environmental education center (CREEC) that was closed in the winter, up Wanda, up the hill, under Highway 80, past the Dead Fish Restaurant (located near where Pomona turns into San Pablo Ave.), to a Vista Point pull-out area (approximately a half mile from the Dead Fish). After snapping a few photos from the Vista Point overlook, I walked back (East) along San Pablo Ave. (hugging the guardrail to remove myself from the flow of traffic as much as possible).
I walked back on a slightly different path -- a combined pedestrian and bike path (that dead-ended into a parking lot that I hadn't seen before. The parking lot was at the end of Ceres, near Ceres and Port. Walking under the freeway (Highway 80), with several concrete arches/overpasses above you can be a little confusing.
Wildlife Sightings:
19 little brown jobs (LBJs); 2 cats (1 domestic, 1 stray/feral); 4 turkey vultures; 1 crow; 1 sea gull; 3 pigeons.
Hi Corinne,
ReplyDeleteMaybe the 'Little Brown Jobs (LBJ's)' that you've seen are one or all of the following:
Chestnut Backed Chickadee - Solitary or in mating pairs, mostly a gregarious specie and seem so curious of mankind; will follow hikers from tree to tree and share their gay little songs from the branches above.
http://www.naturefocused.com/photography/birding/chestnut-backed-chickadee.html
Oregon Junko - In mating pairs or in small groups; bold at times standing their ground until the last moment in the dirt on the trail or fire road just a few feet ahead. They freaquently nest in the tall grass alongside of trails or the banks of small creeks. They make a clicking chirp when you get too close to their nesting site.
http://i.pbase.com/u20/jim_mckinlock/upload/36586751.CRW_0729.tif
White Crowned Sparrow - Often in groups, they love fallen trees or thick brush which they jump in and out of as they conduct brief sorte missions for food.
http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/171/overrides/white-crowned-sparrow_17189_600x450.jpg
Golden Crowned Sparrow - Similar to above.
http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/172/overrides/golden-crowned-sparrow_17272_600x450.jpg
California Tohee - Solitary, slightly larger than the above birds, they stay on the ground mostly. You'll see these guys in the early morning or evening ducking in and out of brush or digging about for terrestial bugs.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_HKt3t5Mu2T4/SjMeGeImrdI/AAAAAAAAFdA/eUxkIcPdM9g/IMG_9697_edited-1.jpg
Each specie of bird highlighted above are commonly seen in or near their dwellings alongside of trails around the S.F. Bay Area.
Enjoy!
Jaime
Jaime,
ReplyDeleteThank you. Yes, I think I've spotted all these birds you've mentioned during my walk. I am indeed doing a disservice to dozens of little brown birds and songbirds by lumping them all together. I began the walk with this one, broad LBJ category -- and so, to keep the Running Tally of wildlife counts consistent, I've kept this category the same.
Best, Corinne