Over the July 4th weekend, my wife and I went for a short hike at Rancho San Antonio, an open space preserve that borders Los Altos, Cupertino and I-280. Rancho is one of my favorite outdoor playgrounds, since it's conveniently located in the heart of Silicon Valley. It's where I first discovered trail running and where I trained (PG&E Trail) for my hike up to Half Dome at Yosemite. It's also where I return year after year to find a new generation of lambs, goats and piglets at the Deer Hollow Farm.
I have also had my share of wildlife encounters at Rancho San Antonio: Bobcats, Rattlesnakes, Blacktail Deers, Wild Turkeys, Quails, Rabbits, Owls, Acorn Woodpeckers, etc. Each time, I always said to myself "If only I had brought my camera." Well, I finally brought my camera this past weekend, and I was not disappointed. I'm sharing my pictures in this Blog (Press Play on Slideshow below), out of complete respect for the wildlife and their home. In shooting these photos, I kept my distance, tried to blend in with nature, and captured the close-ups through a zoom lense.
In a world of global warming and diminishing natural habitats, I think it's great that open space preserves such as Rancho San Antonio is able to sustain an ecosystem that is thriving despite being in the shadows of encroaching home developments, congested freeways and high-tech business parks. As a parent, I often wonder if such wonderful places will still exist when my daughter is old enough to appreciate it. As a nature lover, I'm quite hopeful (based on my observations) that I will find a new generation of thriving wildlife at Rancho this time next year, the following year, and for the foreseeable future.
BTW in case you are wondering, I have not had a Mountain Lion encounter. They are elusive, solitary animals that hunt mostly during the wee hours when the parks are closed. By chance if I'm lucky enough to spot one, I will be sure to Blog about the experience. Stay tuned!
