Bike trail from Mountain View to Alviso/Sunnyvale

 Bike trail from Mountain View to Alviso/Sunnyvale



The 8 mile route: Start biking toward Shoreline Park along Mountain View Steven's Creek, continue on to Moffett Bay Trail, that loops behind Ames Moffett field and ends at the Sunnyvale Water Pollution Treatment plant. Next bike into the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge along Guadalupe slough. 
Though the trail continued further after 8 miles, I decided to turn back and retraced my path back to the start - but not before capturing this short video

Open skies






One can truly enjoy a tranquil bike ride under wide open blue skies, right on the edge of the South San Francisco Bay - a place synonymous with the unending hustle and bustle of the Silicon Valley.

Water birds


Birders know that winter time is a good time to spot water birds including the migratory American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos ) with snowy white plumage and black flight feathers (visible only when the wings are spread) and yellow-orange bill and legs. One of the largest flying birds they gracefully move in flocks from one feeding area to another. Though considerably larger than a Bald Eagle they are smaller than the California Condor which has the largest wingspan. White pelicans corral fish in the shallow by forming an ever-tightening arc, before feasting on the catch. 


The migratory Double crested cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) sunning itself to dry its non-oily wings after diving underwater to feed on fish. These are large water birds with a long neck and tail. Breeding birds have small tufts of feathers on the side of the head but can be difficult to distinguish. Look instead for the orange-yellow skin at the base of the bill.


Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) keeping a sharp lookout for wayward fish. This is a beautiful, graceful egret that is very active feeding in shallow waters. Known by dark bill and contrasting yellow feet. 



An finally a sobering reminder that even here the landscape is under severe stress and is worth protecting, bringing to mind the song "Down by the river" by Albert Hammond with the following lyrics
Why do willows weep, said he
Because they're dying gradually
From the waste, from the factories
Down by the river

In time, the river banks will die
And the reeds will wilt and the ducks won't fly
There'll be a tear in the otter's eye
Down by the river


Here's to more bike rides under open skies
Location: Moffett Field Bay Trail, Sunnyvale, CA, USA

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