Beautiful Bahia (December 1st)

We couldn't have asked for better weather for our late Fall hike in the marshlands in the Bahia area of Novato.  No fog in the morning, and lots of warm sunshine in the afternoon.

As we did last year when we did this hike in mid-November, we parked at the end of the paved road and walked across the street to the home of Lee Skutch's friend, Marguerite, who keeps three dozen or so hummingbird feeders full of sugar water to attract the little guys (and gals).  Unfortunately, only a couple of these diminutive birds were on hand for us to see; the rest were probably out foraging elsewhere that morning.

Although it was slim pickings with the hummingbirds, it was a veritable feast for the eyes watching waterfowl swimming along between the edge of the Bahia shoreline and the Petaluma river to the east.  We saw Shovelers, Pintails, Ruddy Ducks, Mute Swans, and a host of other birds.   (Click here for Wendy's list of all of the creatures and plants we saw on this hike).
We spent about two hours working our way north, and then west, and then south along the edge of the marshlands until we reached our usual lunch spot near a large oak tree just off the fire road.  The ducks and shorebirds were fewer here, but the temperature had risen into the mid-60's and it was all we could do to make ourselves get up after our repast and hike back to the cars, instead of napping in the sun.

By 2 pm, high hazy clouds had formed in the sky above us, portending possible rain over the next few days.  But we could have cared less; our hike was done and we were dry and smiling.

(Click here for the rest of Dick Jordan's photos shot during this hike, some of which are in both color and black and white; they also play in the mini-slideshow window in the Meandering blog.  To see Theresa Fisher's photos in her separate on-line Flick album, click here).