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Golden-crowned Sparrow by Carter Gasiorowski
Beginner-friendly Birding at Rancho San Antonio (Cupertino)
Join us for an easy, beginner-friendly outing through lower trails of Rancho San Antonio in Cupertino. We will look and listen for year-round resident birds including Acorn Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, and Spotted Towhee, as well as winter residents such as White- and Golden-crowned Sparrows and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. We'll also keep our eyes open for raptors, including Red-shouldered, Red-tailed, and Cooper's Hawks. This trip is geared towards beginning birders, but everyone is welcome!
Trip Difficulty: 1.5 miles, paved trails, packed-dirt trails, little or no elevation gain, some shade. Our birding route has minimal elevation gain, but you may need to park in one of the upper lots, which is a short but moderately inclined walk to/from our meeting place.
Other Trip Notes: Please bring binoculars.
Leaders: Susan Tenney (408) 802-6184, Dori Faust (408) 489-9178
Beginner Friendly, Family Friendly Ages 10 and up, Stroller Friendly, Wheelchair Accessible
Meet: Parking Lot 6, near the rest rooms
Directions: From Foothill Expressway in Cupertino, turn onto Cristo Rey Drive; continue 0.8 miles to the roundabout; take the second exit to stay on Cristo Rey Drive; continue 0.2 miles. Turn left into Rancho San Antonio and at the intersection, turn right and follow the road all the way down to Parking Lot 6. (Latitude/Longitude: 37.332787, -122.087385). Note: In case Lot 6 is full, park in one of the upper lots (2, 3, or 4) that you will have passed on your way in, and walk down the paved path leading from Lot 4 down to Lot 6 (about a 3-minute walk).
Facilities: ADA accessible bathroom, cell coverage may be intermittent or non-existent
Parking Type and Fees: Paved parking lot, no fees
Questions? Email general questions to fieldtrips@scvas.org or contact the trip leader for questions regarding the event.