June 10, 2026: City of Menlo Park Birdwalk, Bedwell Bayfront Park

Although it was a bit of a warm morning, we had a wonderful bird walk exploring through Bedwell Bayfront Park with Eileen, Lynn, Stan, Deborah, Victoria, Carolee and Delores. This was the 6th City of Menlo Park sponsored monthly bird walk.

We started out near the parking area watching the barn swallows go into their mud nests to feed their babies. The babies must still be young because the adults were going all the way into the holes to feed the babies.

We started our walk along the bayfront and saw two ducks but were not sure what kind they were. Perhaps a male Gadwall?

White Pelicans

White Pelicans

Good clear view of a Snowy Egret with its yellow slippers.

Forster's Tern

Great Egret making a landing right next to a Snowy Egret with mating colors. The space between the eyes and beak are more of a red color and the yellow feet look more orange.

Snowy Egrets

Black-necked Stilt

Snowy Egret with red mating color

3 Great Egrets hanging out in the trees.

Up the back hill into the park.

Western Bluebird

Western Bluebird Juvenile

Lesser Goldfinch feeding on the grass grains.

California Towhee

Our most exciting find! Artichoke blooms. If the artichokes are not harvested and picked, then they bloom.

I was telling the ladies that a hummingbird on an artichoke bloom was my dream shot. A minute later, Delores came walking up and said, hey Rick, there is a hummingbird on that artichoke bloom! Everyone turned around then the hummer took off! But at least I knew they were feeding off the blooms.

The salt flats were very salty and bright!

Old and not very happy looking and very grey great blue heron.

After everyone left, I went back up to the artichoke blooms and saw two different hummingbirds feeding on the blooms along with some butterflies and bumble bees.

Butterfly on the Artichoke blooms.

So I got my dream shot of this female Anna's Hummer feeding. Although now I want to get a more colorful male hummer feeding off the blooms!