I hiked this trail for the first time this morning after the showers stopped in SB. Surprised I never got there before. Birding was good, though there was a lot of equipment working along the creekside road today. Highlights included 4, possibly 5 Lazuli Buntings; 5 Black-headed Grosbeaks, Olive-sided Flycatcher calling well up the creek beyond the cabins; An abundance of beautiful Violet-Green Swallows, but warblers were few. I had only1 Yellow Warbler, a few Orange-crowns singing in the oaks, and about 5 different singing Common Yellowthroats doing the same in the tall mustard. I hiked up the Bill Wallace Trail away from the creek for a bit and came across some interesting flowers among the mustard on the hillside, including some blooming Dudleyas.
Yesterday I checked the local wetlands and I also went out to Coal Oil Point Reserve with Adrian and Pam (few birds there, very high tide). Significantly missing was the Reddish Egret, and checking others' checklists, I see that it hasn't been seen for several days. There was no sign of the Cattle Egret at Area L but the pair of American Avocets remains, with one bird still appearing to be sitting on a nest.

Florence Sanchez