Blauert on Outdoors: Kesterton hike is for the birds ... wildlife and more

Driving west on Highway 140 last Sunday afternoon, the light rain hitting the windshield boded poorly for hiking. An online weather forecast insisted the chance of rain was zero, but we begged to differ.

By the time we reached the Kesterton Unit of the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge, it stopped, and sunlight was breaking through the clouds. We had 2½ hours of brisk walking under a beautiful sky – good exercise and the perfect way to end the weekend.

Unlike the other units of the San Luis Refuge, Kesterton has extensive walking trails. A network of more than 9 miles of gravel and dirt roads provides plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs and observe wildlife. If some members of your family happen to be canine and enjoy exploring the outdoors with you, they are also welcome, as long as they are leashed.

Kesterton is a section of the San Joaquin River’s historic floodplain – an area that would have flooded annually before the construction of our flood control and irrigation systems. The soil is alkaline, and vernal pools are common. The land stretches out before you – a big, wide-open area of slightly rolling ground with ponds, scattered trees and a sky that seems unusually large.

From now through April is the ideal time to visit. The grasses are green, yellow wildflowers were starting to bloom around vernal pools at the time of our visit, and there is plenty of wildlife to be seen.

During waterfowl season, this area is designated for hunting. It’s open to other uses from Feb. 15 to Sept. 15.

Kesterton is an easy drive from Merced. Heading west on Highway 140, it’s about 4 miles east of Gustine.

Despite many previous visits to other nearby refuges, this was my first visit to the Kesterton Unit. I don’t have much to say in my defense, other than I suppose in years past by the time waterfowl season ended, I was already out doing other things.

I’m glad we made it out there finally. It was well worth the trip, despite the fact many migratory birds have left. One of our most memorable sightings was a pair of nesting great horned owls. Other birds surprised us. Congregated in a pond on the horizon, we guessed some white-ish birds might be egrets or possibly sandhill cranes. The zoom lens on the camera, however, revealed them to be pelicans.

Among our sightings were: great egret, great blue heron, Swainson’s hawk, red-tailed hawk, mallard, cinnamon teal, coot, snow goose (or Ross’ goose), California gull, western meadowlark, killdeer, red-winged blackbird, Brewer’s blackbird, cottontail, jackrabbit and gopher.

We also spotted deer and raccoon tracks. Recently posted signs warn visitors of mountain lion sightings.

Most of the trails at Kesterton are used for hunter access and refuge management. They are gated during non-hunting season, so visitors park in the parking area. In addition to the main road that runs from the parking area to the far end of the unit, there are many interconnected side routes, some of which are less obvious. They aren’t signed, so it’s best to keep a copy of the map with you and look at it frequently to keep yourself oriented.

Go to the map section on the refuge’s website (www.fws.gov/Refuge/San_Luis/map.html) and click on “Additional Maps.”

I also recommend picking up the useful and informative pamphlet “San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex” at the visitor center on Wolfsen Road. This pamphlet contains the same map. In a pinch, you can also take a photo of the map on the interpretive signboard at the entrance to the refuge.

For information about the Kesterton Unit, go to www.fws.gov/

refuge/san_luis or call 209-826-3508.

This story was originally published March 8, 2016 at 7:10 PM with the headline "Blauert on Outdoors: Kesterton hike is for the birds ... wildlife and more."