Diario de gdiversityoraha

My third hike was Bittern Marsh Trail within the Merced National Wildlife Refuge, a notable wetland habitat in Central California. The weather was ideal, with temperatures in the low 80s and no wind. The trail offers a flat and well-maintained path, making it accessible for both hiking and leisurely walks. This setting provides a great opportunity for wildlife observation and photography, particularly of the diverse avian population that the refuge supports. I even found multiple owl pellets throughout the refuge. The Merced National Wildlife Refuge encompasses several hundred acres, dedicated to the preservation of native flora and fauna. On this particular day, the lack of wind allowed for an uninterrupted chorus of bird calls which I had not experienced before. Definitely plan to go back to explore the other trails.

My second hike was a riparian habitat called Dry Creek. The meandering creek runs through East La Loma Park in Modesto CA. The weather was 70s and sunny, no wind. I started in the East La Loma parking lot and started my hike along the creek. It is truly a picturesque natural area that offers a serene escape, right in my hometown. Fun fact the park spans over 125 acres! The trail winds through the park, providing opportunities for hiking, jogging, and wildlife viewing (there was ALOT of people that day). The creek itself is a focal point, but the park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including birds, squirrels, and plenty of plant life. The California ground squirrels in particular were out and about (I saw about 10-15 individuals!). The park also includes the remains of an old homestead, providing a glimpse into the area's past.

My first hike was seacliffs in Monterey Bay. The weather was in the 60s and sunny. I started my hike by going towards Hopkins State Marine Reserve and walked the trail alongside it which goes through Andy Jacobson Park (most of my findings were there) and Berwick Park. My goal was to make it to lovers point for some tide pooling, however the tide is only starting to get low and the swell was actually higher than expected. The name of the trail I walked specifically is called the Monterey Bay Coastal trail (this eventually connects to the Monterey Peninsula Recreational trail which would lead to Lover's point). There were many harbor seals by the reserve laying out in the sun. There was not as much drift algae as expected when I hit Berwick park but there was plenty of dead California mussel shells washed up on the shore.