Aves Specta

The Monterey Bay Aquarium has a wonderful display of shorebirds. These are pretty nice, but the Red Phalarope was the greatest treat.

We chose to take the scenic route from Ceres to San Jose, not realizing just how challenging the drive would be. We eschewed I-680 for Del Puerto Canyon Road, San Antonio Valley Road, and Mt Hamilton Road.

We spent more than 3 hours traveling through the scenic countryside, twisting, winding, climbing, gliding, and lurching much of the way. At about the geographic midpoint of our journey, we stopped to stretch our legs and regain our balance. I've pinned the spot on a Google Map.

If we had been birding all along the route, the list could have been exciting. Still, this one place supplied my lifer Lawrence's Goldfinch within seconds of stopping.

She heeded her training -- taught me how to feed Khaki on her second morning.