I’m not sure if it’s all the rain we’ve had, but if you are into birds at all, I’d highly recommend a quick trip to Corona Heights Park.
The park is almost two short hikes in one. First, there’s the brush and trees just a block off Castro Street (at 15th) where we saw yellow warblers, Western scrub jays, white-spotted sparrows, and multiple varieties of hummingbird. And this was without even actively birdwatching (and with negotiating a toddler up a steep, muddy hill, kind of the opposite of birdwatching, whatever that is). They were just everywhere, walking across our path, entire flocks taking up a hillside, flitting around a patch of flowers.
Once you’re up the hill and above the tree line, things take a turn for the rocky. Large mounds jut out of barren earth, with 360 degree views of San Francisco. It does not feel like you’re in the middle of a city.
(I wouldn’t say this hike is entirely toddler friendly. Maybe more small kid friendly. Bean had a blast, but took a few tumbles and we ended up carrying her in the Ergo more than we do on other hikes. And, yes, we still front-carry her in the Ergo. That’s a topic for another day.)
