Started with the intention of attaining the lofty Prospector’s Gap as Im supposed to be training to hike the JMT this summer. However, the creeks had water and I was getting a bit tired when at the top of Middle Trail, so I decided to take the Falls Loop instead. I have always done that loop clockwise and it looked very different heading the other direction. Donner Creek proper had a small amount of fall activity, but the main falls were dry. That said, going counter clockwise offered some spectacular views of the chert beds!
I must have seen over a dozen varieties of wild flowers.
Henderson’s Shooting Star:Numerous Western Fence Lizards
Combination motorcycle ride and hike today. Road a couple of the 3 Bears, turned around at San Pablo and went to the Briones Pine Tree trailhead off Alhambra Valley Road. This was my first time entering Briones from this location. Very pleasant day!
Great view of a hawk that flew directly over my head as I was heading back. I was side hilling on slope above Alhambra Valley and he came down from above then immediately caught an uplift of the valley wind and effortless rose at least 40 feet in a second or two. It was something to watch!.
Today I was fortunate to accompany experienced birder George on an East Bay and Delta birding expedition.
We started at Black Diamond Mines parking lot where we saw numerous species and proceeded along the chaporal trail where the highlight was a great and prolonged few of at least three California Thrashers.
On the drive out we spotted several new species includim this Phainopepla.
And not much further along this Coopers Hawk:
Then we drove to Contra Loma Reservoir where Burrowing Owls had been reported, and being the experienced birder that he his George immediately trained his spotting scope right on it:
Next we drove to a Marina on Bethel Island where a lone Asian duck had been reported, where we bought some drinks at the marina store and proceeded up the stairs to a viewing area where two other birders were hanging out. They reported that they could not find the bird, and indeed many birds were in view but they were a distance away.
Then we stopped for a nice lunch at a Mexican restaurant in Oakley. As it was my birthday Geogre bought…thanks George!!
We then went off to xx track we’re George was hoping to pick up a new bird on his list for Contra Costa County..the Sandhill Crane, but no joy. We did however get a look at one of my favorite birds, the Kingfisher, among many others.
We then went to the ironwood sanitation district based on reports by others that it was a birding hotspot, but signs said to check in at the desk and she knew nothing about it. iNaturalist sightings we’re all along the permiiter. So we proceed to the nearby xx park.
We then drove back to pleasant Hill and picked up a few more species in the neighborhood and along the canal trail.
Here is the complete list:
1 Greater White-fronted Goose
2 Canada Goose
3 Northern Shoveler
4 American Wigeon
5 Mallard
6 Northern Pintail
7 Green-winged Teal
8 Canvasback
9 Bufflehead
10 Common Goldeneye
11 Ruddy Duck
12 Pied-billed Grebe
13 Clark’s Grebe
14 Mourning Dove
15 Anna’s Hummingbird
16 Common Gallinule
17 American Coot
18 Black-necked Stilt
19 Greater Yellowlegs
20 Ring-billed Gull
21 California Gull
22 Double-crested Cormorant
23 American White Pelican
24 Great Blue Heron
25 Great Egret
26 Snowy Egret
27 Green Heron
28 Black-crowned Night-Heron
29 Turkey Vulture
30 White-tailed Kite
31 Cooper’s Hawk
32 Red-tailed Hawk
33 Golden Eagle
34 Burrowing Owl
35 Belted Kingfisher
36 Acorn Woodpecker
37 Nuttall’s Woodpecker
38 Downy Woodpecker
39 Northern Flicker
40 American Kestrel
41 Black Phoebe
42 Loggerhead Shrike
43 California Scrub-Jay
44 American Crow
45 Common Raven
46 Cliff Swallow
47 Barn Swallow
48 Oak Titmouse
49 White-breasted Nuthatch
50 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
51 Western Bluebird
52 American Robin
53 California Thrasher
54 Northern Mockingbird
55 Phainopepla
56 House Finch
57 Lesser Goldfinch
58 White-crowned Sparrow
59 Golden-crowned Sparrow
60 Dark-eyed Junco
61 Western Meadowlark
62 Red-winged Blackbird
63 Brewer’s Blackbird
64 Yellow-rumped Warbler
George invited me on a trip to try and find a Gyrfalcon that has been spotted in Monterey County the past several days.
The Gryfalcon is much larger than other raptors we are used too in California, and is normally found in the Artic. So there is a bit of excitement in the birding community at the prospect of seeing one.
We left Pleasant Hill around 7am and arrived in Moss Landing by 8:45 (about 15 minutes late it turns out).
We first went to TBD bridge but it was foggy, then went to TBD dunes, but it was also foggy, then went to TBD jetty where we later learned that it had been spotted there that morning “engaging with a Perigen Falcon”. It was reported to have then flown off to the two large smoke stacks and we met a guy who claimed to have seen it come in and land but when he shifted to a new position to get a better look it was gone. That was around 10:15am and the last known sighting.
For the next several hours we tried multiple locations and talked to other birders to no avail. Fortunately George had brought his bird list for Monterey and he helped me use that to get my list started.
We were in some fantastic bird habitat, once we started on my list we pretty quickly logged over 50 species of birds, not to mention the sea otters and seals.
Here is my new Monterey County Bird List:
(Thanks George for pulling this from your excellent home brew database – geared towards maintaining county lists such as this)
Canada Goose
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
Surf Scoter
Bufflehead
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Eared Grebe
Western Grebe
Anna’s Hummingbird
American Coot
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Whimbrel
Long-billed Curlew
Marbled Godwit
Sanderling
Least Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Willet
Greater Yellowlegs
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Western Gull
California Gull
Brandt’s Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Turkey Vulture
White-tailed Kite
Northern Harrier (George got a better view then me on this one..I can’t count it)
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Black Phoebe
Say’s Phoebe
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Bushtit
House Finch
White-crowned Sparrow
Western Meadowlark
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer’s Blackbird
Bob an I decided to do a bit of birdwatching today so first went to the bird overlook and then drove further along Marina Vista Rd and started walking on a trail marked for public access.
We saw many types of birds:
Cooper’s hawk
Red tail hawk
Kite
Avocet
Great egret
Snowy egret
Great blue haron
Grackles
Over a half dozen varieties of water fowl
Anna’s hummingbird
Black bird
White pelicans
Canadian geese
Also saw several large, long eared jackrabbits, a coyote, and heard multiple frogs.
Bob and I completed the next section of the BART today. A 8+ mile segment with a fantastic view spot on “Dinosaur Ridge”. The Vista is comprised of a hard fossilisiferous material that contains the most embedded seasheells that I have seen in a very long time. I took a photoshpere but unfortunately my camera is acting up and it did not save.
A fairly strenuous hike with over 7000′ of total elevation gain. But some great views and the few people we saw were quite nice.
Even though this project has spanned many weekends, it has been an adventure so I feel it fitting to document here.
After living in our house for over 20 years I am finally getting shed/shop where I can tinker around.
Ground breaking started in April when Bob helped me remove a privet tree near the SE corner of the back yard. Which took about a day or so plus another day or so to remove the stump.
Tree Removal – April 2017
There is a power pole near the corner so I did a bit of easement research and called PG&E to see how close I could build the shed to the pole. Surprisingly the rules were rather vague..so because I had plenty of space, and I could use the space between the shed and the fence for kayak storage, I decided to place it 6 feet from the pole.
Next step was to get some plans, which, also surprisingly, is not as easy as one would expect to pull off the internet. I settled for a set from cheapsheds.com, which i used as a general guide but ended up modifying the design as i went – primarily by adding a double top plate and associated adjustments related to that. For the foundation, Chris convinced me to go with four 4×6 12-foot pressure treated beams for the “skids”. I installed 4 pier blocks for each skid. The ground in my build site slopes about a foot from West to East so I had to bury the blocks to varying depths in order for their tops to be level. I had 2 yards of angular gravel delivered (which I moved via wheelbarrow to the back yard).
Approximately 1-foot drop from west to east
Using stakes and string I marked off the location. The strings could slide along horizontal members allowing the intersection to me moved in order to adjust the exact location of the corner. Using a tape measure it is possible to make the area square by ensuring the diagonal corner to corner measurements are the same for both diagonals.
Adjustable strings used to square off the building site.
Next step was to install the 16 pier blocks used to support the skids. For each a dug a hole up to 2.5 feet deep, filled the bottom 4+ inches with gravel, placed the block and filled the remaining void with gravel. During this process I used a homemade model of a pier block made of wood so I could easily check to see if the hoke was large enough and the top of the block was level with surrounding blocks. I did my best to level each block with its neighbors. The site slopes approximately 1 foot west to east, so some of the blocks were nearly completely buried while others were nearly resting at surface level. (Mid-May)
June 2nd – All Pier Blocks installed
Then I placed the skids and leveled them with cut pieces of asphalt shingles and then screwed the beams to the blocks. In hindsight I should have added wood spacers where the gap was over an inch in order to provide better purchase for the screws…but hey, it only a shed.
4×6 by 12′ “Skids” – June 18
Because I stored the skids for over a month before using them, one was allowed to twist beyond use – it corkscrewed in quite a fashion. To replace it I screwed 2 2×6’s together, which was slightly cheaper and possibly less susceptible to twisting – I see many people suggesting putting a sheet of plywood inbetween. Also, all of the skids were slightly longer than 12 feet bit I did not trim them because I did not want to cut off the pressure treated end.
Next up was to install the 2×6 floor joists. Each was exactly 10 feet long so I did not need to cut them. These were also pressure treated. I screwed each into the skids at every contact and also attached the rim joists – which overhang the outside skids by about 7 inches. I used 3″ screws rated for PT wood. I checked for square using the corner to corner tape method (e.g. the diagonal legs should be equal), adjust via sledge hammer before securing the 2×6 to the 4x6s. Note: I took July off to go camping with my family and backpacking with Bob.
Square it up! – Aug 26th
Next up was 3/4″ pressure treated plywood. Attached to the joists with 2.5″ screws. I had to cut one sheet into 2′ x 4′ sections using my skill saw and a a 2×4 guide that I clamped onto the plywood…turned out better than expected.
3/4″ Pressure Treated Plywood Flooring
With the floor complete I went to Lowe’s to get most of the framing lumber.
Lumber Run! Sept 15
Parked my mower on top of the siding to keep it from warping.
Next up: the truss’s
Truss “Jig” built on the shed floor.
Next up, the window-less/door-less walls:
Measure Corner to Corner – Diagonals should be equal if “square”
Raised via floor jack and then lifted each side to slip in a 2×4 – then Bob helped lift into place!
A bit of plumbers tape to stop the wall from sliding off during the lift…great idea! Also, note how the siding over hangs the joist.
Two walls up! Sept 24
Handy tool for straightening 2x4s when framing the walls
Next up, the walls with windows/doors. A “speed square” is a very handy tool for this stage.
Marking the top and bottom plates. Also shown is the header, which is two 2x4s with a piece of siding in-between.
King, Jack and Cripple stud markings on top and bottom plates. (course the cripple is not needed on the top plate)
The last wall can’t be sheeted when lying down.
Hanging the sheeting after the wall is up is MUCH harder than doing it while laying flat. Thanks Dan!
Window and Door holes cut out with a router – via the outside so the router bit could rest on the framing for a perfect cut.
Cut the bottom plate for the door.
Double top plate – to help tie the two walls together (not shown). Also shown is the jack and king studs for the Header.
Gable Ends – Pre-Trimmed (Oct 11)
Truss Time! Note the truckers strap used to plumb the side walls a bit. Thanks Keith and Alex!
Placing the TechShield sheeting – Roof Time!
Thanks Bob!
Front Shingles. Thanks Keith!
Back Shingles. Thanks Lesley!
Gap for the ridge vent. Can also see the sheeting spacers.
Door In – Nov 4th
Siding “ripped” into strips to use as trim. (much cheaper)
Bill and I set out for Jim’s Place in Black Diamond Mines Regional Park. The area was once an active coal mine and company town. Jim’s Place is an historic miners dwelling carved out sandstone..a cave if you will, with a pretty large doorway, chimney vent, and built in shelf. Something akin to structures I dreamt about building in my youth.
We started at the parking lot off Clayton Road and then headed up what Bill calls “2-mile road” – which is a dirt road used by ranchers, park district vehicle, mt bikers and hikers.
A View from 2-Mile Rd
We were passed by a couple groups of bikers, some of whom started on the Antioch side, went up and over to Clayton, and then back again. This brought back memories for Bill and I as we once regularly road our bikes in these hills. But now we are happy that we are both fit enough to pull off a 8 miler on short notice.
At the top of the road we went through the side gate to continue along the Briones/Diablo trail, up hill, and eventually got up to the power towers….a visible landmark for many miles.
2-Mile Rd is part of many Trails
On the way up Bill talked about how the main road used to be open to the public and one could drive from Clayton to Pittsburgh ..and prior to that parts of it used to be a railroad that his great granddad worked on.
Antioch Coal Whatf, circa 1881
After enjoying view from our highest spot, we decided to head back down the way we came and correct a wrong turn we made to get to Jims.
High Point View
Once we got to old shelter I barely recognized it, a pine in front had grown tremendously since I was last there (at least 15 years ago), obscuring the view, making feel somewhat mysterious.
From there we headed back the way we came. A pleasant day with good conversation and memories.
A poor picture of a magnificent Buckeye…branch tips are starting to bud.
Bob and I set out again today to find a rope swing that we observed at a distance back in May. After failing to find it last time we employed some geo location tech by getting the date of the observance from a FB post (which I must admit I miss a little but not enough to jump back in), then we pulled up pics from that day and tapped into the gps location data to pin point where we were. First time I’ve done that and was happy to see the location data still existed even on the cloud backup of the pic as the original had long since been removed from my phone due to space limitations. Pressing the information icon when viewing the photo on Cameringo+ brought it up on a map. (Note to self-see if the location data lives on the pics in this post..looks like it is an option on upload).
With that info in hand it became an easy task to find the swing, in what I must say is in a rather obvious location- a solo Oak atop a knoll with a sweeping view of Carquinez Straights.
We started the hike at Cementry Lot around 10am, through the main gate and up the left trail into a steep dark hallow. Bob did want to follow a pretry hiker and her dog that took the other path.
It hadent rained in a while so the ground was slightly tacky..the air was cold…night air lingering in the canyon protected by the thick canopy.
On our way up the steep trail we explored a large oak that had fallen over. We scrambled up the slope, away from the trail to check out the exposed root ball. On the way back down we spotted a critter den under some rocks. The den was large enough for a racoon sized animal. Bob found a small skull on top indicating a carnivore may live there.
Skull atop animal den
This is near the tracks we saw a few trips back..possible cougar tracks (which we confirmed are still there) …and indeed we saw similar track marks near the base of the den…but truth be told these could have also been made by a hikers dog.
Possible cougar tracks
After we cleared the canopy and attained the ridge we took a right and headed to Vista Bench. From there Bob spotted the swing in a distant oak. We saw someone was already there so we hung at the bench for awhile.
Swing Tree via Vista Bench
Then we decided to head cross country to the swing. The hiking was easy since the grass was dead and toppled over, with the green starts of the next crop peeping out a couple of inches. The poison oak had lost its leaves..just clumps of twigs one needs to be cautious of.
Cross Country
We met a fellow hiker at the tree. He had come from Pittsburg and left his wife in town while he hiked to the swing. After talking for a bit he pointed to something in a burl hole that turned out to be a geo cache. He then left to meet his wife for brunch.
The swing appears to have been placed by a sailer….marine rope with some creative bowline knots. The view from the swing is great, but it is more of a leasurly affair as the overall length is not great. Allthough Bob did manage some creative moves. For more of a wild ride one must go to the swing by the windmill, a mile or so south.
It was the shortest hike we have done in a long time, but a memerable one.
