The Palo Alto Baylands Wildlife Preserve is a great place to visit just about any time, but low tide really is a bonanza for wildlife photographers. Stilts, avocets, and other shore birds abound, and depending on the time of year, barn swallows and ground squirrels are there, Soon it’ll be nesting time for the Snowy Egrets and Black Crown Night Herons in the palm trees. When the time’s just right, the nesting birds can be photographed easily with a 200mm lens without disturbing them.
On April 24, 2008 there was some egret and night heron activity in the trees. Nearby, the avocets were in breeding plumage.
One way to get there: Take 101 to the Embarcadero turnoff in Palo Alto, go East on Embarcadero to the T intersection; turn left to the Duck Pond. The palm trees to the East of the pond are home to the nesting egrets. Bonus: lots of ducks (some itinerates) in the Duck Pond.
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