Baylands Nature Preserve: Palo Alto, California

Female Common Goldeneye


Long-billed Curlew


Northern Shoveler


American Avocet


Another American Avocet

Mike took a business trip to Silicon Valley and had time to stop at the Baylands Nature Preserve in Palo Alto. The highlight was a Common Goldeneye. We've seen them occasionally in NJ and once on Lake Nelson but never got a good photo before. A better camera helps but there's nothing like sunlight.

More from Baylands: Palo Alto, CA

Lesser Goldfinch (western variety)


Cliff Swallow in nest


American Avocet


Clark's Grebe with a fish


Song Sparrow


Anna's Hummingbird


A brief birdwatching trip to the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve showed a good variety of birds. Song Sparrows were everywhere and made their presence known. The Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretive Center was built to house exhibits but the area under the roof was covered with cliff swallow nests. The only disappointment was that I didn't see the rare clapper rail, but the tides and time of year weren't ideal. I may be back next winter.

Shore Birds from SoCal

Spotted Sandpiper

Long-Billed Curlew

Long-Billed Curlew

American Avocet

Greater Yellowlegs

American Avocet

Photo of an Avocet, taken in California. Because he has long legs and a long bill, we were surprised to see him swim and eat like a duck, not a stilt.