A Morning Hike

Yesterday morning I went on a winter walk in the park next to our house. It was 41 degrees. Sun was out, but much of the walk was in the shade.

A striking note in the beginning -- the call of a flicker. Then a little farther on, a group of geese honking away as they circled the valley where Lake Chabot is enscounced. As I arrived at the lake I saw more geese, eight white pelicans, cormorants, various ducks and one seagull. I also think I saw an osprey.

Then there were a group of robins polishing off the remains of the season's toyon berries (heteromeles arbutifolia.) We use the berries every year in Christmas decorations. Lots of other attractive vegetation -- at least two types of ferns, some new redwoods in the dell, stands of willows covered with yellow leaves, big mushrooms.

I collected some fresh bay leaves for I know not what.

Along the lake, mostly women walking, mostly Asian. Saw three dogs. Several groups fishing. The only jogger was a very old man, moving very slowly.

Temperature at my house when I returned -- 44 degrees.