The parking area, with its rather scruffy old barn. Beyond, Fremont and the Bay somewhere in the fog, then the mountains of the Peninsula in the distance.

Mission Peak.

The park has lots of open grassland with a few scattered oaks, like these. Sunol Ridge in the background.

There are just a few farm ponds. This one had quite a collection of mallards ...

... until I got too close. They took off when I was about 200 feet away.

The Upper Ranch Trail dips into the oak/bay forest when it reaches the downslope to Niles Canyon.

Niles Canyon after emerging from the woodland.

Northern harrier. I saw lots of these today, enough that I managed to get a few good shots (and lots of not-so-good ones).

Northern harrier. The white on the rump confirms the identification.

There are some ranches at a distance.

Back by the parking area. There were several families out today, most of the two-legged type.