Billy Wardle family blog: San Joaquin National Wildlife Refuge

Sunday, March 13, 2016

San Joaquin National Wildlife Refuge

I discovered a wildlife refuge only about 20 minutes from our house. I went to the refuge through Modesto, turning at the mall but going west on Beckwith. You follow that a few miles and there is a viewing platform on the right. I must admit, not much to see, but you could hear the gees, and the gun shots from the gun range across the way.
I thank back tracked a little to Gates, and took Gates to the the highway 132 (Maze), turned right, crossed over the river, turned left onto River Road, then left on Dairy and found the parking area very quickly. I got there at a good time, there were no other vehicles in the parking lot. There is a small picnic area, and a four mile nature trail. This park is noted for riparian bunnies. I didn't think I would see one, but saw two within a couple seconds on the trail, but skirting into the bushes ahead of me. No was to get a picture. However I continued on. The lower trail follows a slough, and in that slough I saw the biggest bird I have seen in the wild, reminded me of an ostrich but of course much smaller. I think they are blue herons. I also saw plenty of great egrets, some in flight. There were smaller birds, and plant life different than I see normally. The trail goes around the slough so I saw the egrets from another angle as well.
While going around the slough, one of those bunnies came out of the thicket, and seeing me froze, hoping I wouldn't notice him. I got a couple of pictures. Later a big squirrel did the same thing, and then I saw another bunny way in front of me hopping down the trail.
The riparian forest is =incredible. Everything is off limits except the trail--the are protecting wildlife.
The amenities are an out house at the parking lot. I am glad it was there. As noted I turned back before completing the trail. If you walk far enough the map shows you coming up on the San Joaquin River, old channels and new channel. Also the Tuolumne River flows into the San Joaquin in the refuge.
I returned home a different way. Followed Dairy until it hit Center Street and took that back to River Road. I crossed the 132 onto Kasson which goes through San Joaquin City (an old ghost town with nothing there any more but a monument where the plaque use to be. Then I got on Airport and returned home. It was a fun couple hour diversion. And for me it was a terrific discovery.