Since coming to the U.S., I’ve often talked about Coyote Hills. However, I’ve barely seen an actual coyote yet (though I did see one walking past my house like a stray dog).
That morning, I was wandering around Bedwell Bayfront Park near Dumbarton Bridge. Then, from the hill ahead, a large dog-like animal appeared, carrying something in its mouth.
A coyote. It looks about the size of a large dog. Its fur color is fox-like, but its body appears more robust. At first, I thought it was carrying a bird, but no matter how much I zoomed in, it didn’t look like an animal. A piece of meat, like chicken? There are no houses around this park. If it’s a piece of meat, someone might be feeding it. I have no idea why.
That’s it for the coyote. The rest is about birds and squirrels. Bedwell Bayfront Park is located directly across the bay from Coyote Hills. It’s also quite vast, with numerous trails crisscrossing the hills. I hardly encountered other people. It’s a great place for walking and exercise.
Lesser goldfinch. Savannah sparrow. With all the greenery, this park seems like a good place for birdwatching. I spotted a red-shouldered hawk. I usually only see red-tailed hawks, so I’ve only seen this species from a distance before. A commonly seen red-tailed hawk. A Say’s phoebe perched on a sign. The sign warns about gas emissions from the landfill beneath.
As shown in the photo above, this park was a landfill about 50 years ago. There are informational signs explaining its history throughout the park. Although the surface is now covered in greenery, ongoing management is still required. I’ve noticed that several hills near the Bay Area’s shoreline seem to be former landfill sites.
A California towhee making a rare appearance. They’re common around my house, so I got used to seeing them and stopped taking photos. Sorry about that… This park has a massive number of California ground squirrels. Perhaps the landfill makes it easier for them to dig? I wonder if they ever dig too deep and hit the gas pockets. A squirrel eating grass. Recent studies have reported that these squirrels also hunt and eat small animals like mice, contradicting their “cute” image. Is this for nesting material? Even with easily observable animals, there’s always something new to learn. The world is full of unknowns.
