Created 15-Dec-25
Morning fog obscures distant views. Closer, the soft light brings out colors and details – perfect for this photo expedition, to the Grinding Rock and along the Herb Dengler Trail, with time to observe adventures on Searsville Lake. There are four galleries here, plus a bonus:
Coyote Brush, Lace Lichen, and Riparian Profusion: Down to Grinding Rock
Coyote Brush in bloom, fogdrops highlighting blossoms. Sentinal in Coast Douglas Fir: Great Blue Heron watches grassland. Lichen-draped, fog-moistened Coast Douglas Fir. Vegetative profusion: plants along the creeks below the dam (Corte Madera Creek and its extension, San Francisquito Creek). Red-tailed Hawk, watching – from power pole, then from Valley Oak as fog dissipates.
Grinding Rock
Huge sandstone boulder: calved from upthrust of Rattlesnake Rock, shaped by aeons of patient acidic moisture. Used by First People as gathering place, grinding rock. Landmark.
Fog-diffused light caresses stone texture -- clothed in soft green moss, cold emerald-green lichen. Deep caverns glow orange and yellow. Some scratches can be seen in the surface weathering, deep in the tafone cave. Patterns? How old are they?
Herb Dengler Trail along San Francisquito Creek
San Francisquito Creek is still, and still low: Searsville Dam restrains Corte Madera Creek, even this late into wet season. Fog mutes even subtle sounds. Sandstone boulders broken from Rattlesnake Rock lie haphazardly where they landed, aeons ago. Now lichen, moss, ferns, and fallen leaves soften their jagged outlines. Redwoods stand together, sheltering ferns. Quiet water flows by green leaves and golden. Peace.
Cormorants, Mallards, and Ring-tailed Ducks: Life on the Water
Large raft of Ring-necked Ducks is joined by Double-crested Cormorant and a few Mallards. Great Egret wades in shallow water uplake. Suddenly, Mallards explode from the water, collectively deciding to depart.
Bonus: Great Horned Owl Afterparty
In gathering dusk, from bare Valley Oak, large bird watches silently as partygoers depart: Great Horned Owl, barely visible in growing darkness.
Coyote Brush, Lace Lichen, and Riparian Profusion: Down to Grinding Rock
Coyote Brush in bloom, fogdrops highlighting blossoms. Sentinal in Coast Douglas Fir: Great Blue Heron watches grassland. Lichen-draped, fog-moistened Coast Douglas Fir. Vegetative profusion: plants along the creeks below the dam (Corte Madera Creek and its extension, San Francisquito Creek). Red-tailed Hawk, watching – from power pole, then from Valley Oak as fog dissipates.
Grinding Rock
Huge sandstone boulder: calved from upthrust of Rattlesnake Rock, shaped by aeons of patient acidic moisture. Used by First People as gathering place, grinding rock. Landmark.
Fog-diffused light caresses stone texture -- clothed in soft green moss, cold emerald-green lichen. Deep caverns glow orange and yellow. Some scratches can be seen in the surface weathering, deep in the tafone cave. Patterns? How old are they?
Herb Dengler Trail along San Francisquito Creek
San Francisquito Creek is still, and still low: Searsville Dam restrains Corte Madera Creek, even this late into wet season. Fog mutes even subtle sounds. Sandstone boulders broken from Rattlesnake Rock lie haphazardly where they landed, aeons ago. Now lichen, moss, ferns, and fallen leaves soften their jagged outlines. Redwoods stand together, sheltering ferns. Quiet water flows by green leaves and golden. Peace.
Cormorants, Mallards, and Ring-tailed Ducks: Life on the Water
Large raft of Ring-necked Ducks is joined by Double-crested Cormorant and a few Mallards. Great Egret wades in shallow water uplake. Suddenly, Mallards explode from the water, collectively deciding to depart.
Bonus: Great Horned Owl Afterparty
In gathering dusk, from bare Valley Oak, large bird watches silently as partygoers depart: Great Horned Owl, barely visible in growing darkness.
12/8/2025 Coyote Brush, Lace Lichen, and Riparian Profusion: Down to Grinding Rock
Visitors 54
25 photos
Created 15-Dec-25
Modified 15-Dec-25
12/8/2025 Grinding Rock
Visitors 17
23 photos
Created 15-Dec-25
Modified 15-Dec-25
12/8/2025 Herb Dengler Trail along San Francisquito Creek
Visitors 11
17 photos
Created 15-Dec-25
Modified 15-Dec-25
12/8/2025 Cormorants, Mallards, and Ring-tailed Ducks: Life on the Water
Visitors 6
24 photos
Created 15-Dec-25
Modified 15-Dec-25
Bonus: Great Horned Owl Afterparty 12/11/2025
Visitors 19
5 photos
Created 15-Dec-25
Modified 15-Dec-25
Dan Quinn