Buffleheads and Shovelers

I thought today's hike would be all about collecting another Pix in the Parks photo. [In the company of friends, again.] I should have brought my binoculars!

The recommended route was much too short, so we started out by heading in the opposite direction before looping back to pose at the photo-op site—covering nearly 8 miles before we were done.

Most of us have biked the road that bisects the park, climbing to the top of Mt. Hamilton. Clouds appeared to stream from Lick Observatory in the distance.

Today's hike covered an area that was new to most (all?) of us. Up and down we went, admiring the bare trees festooned with mistletoe and hanging moss.

After spotting Northern Shovelers on Grant Lake, we trudged (somewhat reluctantly) up a steep hill. There we found a secluded little unnamed lake and were fascinated by three Buffleheads repeatedly diving completely below the surface (and staying underwater for a surprisingly long time).

Alas, no good photos of the waterfowl. [Note to self: Hike with a real camera.] It was a treat to have a birder in our midst, identifying two handsome birds that were completely new to me.

We'll have to settle for a picture of this old bird instead.