Redwood Shores - Jan. 8, '12

Walking Distance: 2.4 mi. (estim.)

Walking Time: 1 hrs., 53 min. (2:23 - 4:03 p.m.)

Start and End Point: Parking lot, at SW end of Twin Dolphin Dr., Redwood Shores, CA

Another beautiful, sunny winter day; we haven't had much rain yet this month. I started this walk near the edge of the San Carlos Airport. I walked over small cement bridge toward the Marriott TownPlace Suites. On the bay side of the Marriott I found the paved (asphalt) trail, and walked east, then northeast (trail shown as a red line on the Bay Trail map) along the shore (Steinberger Slough). 

I stopped briefly to talk with some kayakers who were bringing up their kayaks up to shore, and then kept walking through a short section hemmed in by wild fennel plants, before enjoying more sweeping views again.

At one point, there was a large body of water on the left and the Bay on the right, making for good bird watching. I could actually hear all the different birds poking around in the mud, presumably for food.

Eventually the paved trail turned into a packed gravel trail. I turned around near the end of cul-de-sac -- Spar Drive (not visible on map), that joined up with the trail via short gravel path; and I walked back to the intersection of Redwood Shores Parkway and Twin Dolphin Drive.

From here, I headed northwest on Twin Dolphin Dr., past several large office buildings. Bird watching along this stretch is generally limited to crows, Canada geese and little brown jobs (LBJs).

I crossed Shoreline Dr., and walked around the back side of the Hotel Sofitel (which faced the large lagoon shown on map), then around to the hotel's front entrance. I went inside to look around; the interior was modern with a European/French flair. I admired their attractive pastry and chocolate case in the guest shop, and bought a bottle of chilled fruit juice, and some green sencha tea instead. I then walked back (southeast) along Twin Dolphin Dr., back to the car.

Wildlife Sightings:

1 great egret; 87 ducks; 12 little brown jobs (LBJs); 4 sea gulls; 3 kayakers; 10 willets; 47 sandpipers; 74 unidentified brownish shorebirds; 36 American avocets; 2 UFO grebes/divers; 12 crows; 30 coots