An hour and a half drive north of San Francisco lies Tomales Bay, a long channel of water from between Point Reyes and Marin.
The Bay connects to the Pacific Ocean and is protected by its geography, making it a prime oyster farming region. Bring a picnic basket, drinks, and a group of friends, and you can have an afternoon of fresh oysters by the water. The trip gave me my first picture of a flock of California Quail, the state bird of California. They tend to prefer wooded areas with plenty of hiding spots. Though they can fly, they spend much of their time foraging on the ground.
There were many other birds out catching dinner, including several Great Egrets and a (successful) Osprey.
Bird Facts: The California Quail is also the Official Bird of San Francisco. However, sightings in the city are extremely rare. Despite efforts to try to create safe spaces for them, a loss of habitat and threatening predators led to their demise. Though the campaign to save them in San Francisco was not successful, the quail has prospered in other areas of the state. Read More from Pacific Standard Magazine: The Last of the California Quail.
