Join SCVBA staff Matthew Dodder and Carolyn Knight for an early morning of birding the oak savanna habitat of the North Coyote Valley Conservation Area. This site is home to the largest freshwater wetland in Santa Clara County, and has held a front-row seat to conservation projects and open-space planning for the past decade. In addition to listening for rails along the banks of Fisher Creek, we'll be keeping an eye on the sky for raptors, and listening for the songs of our migratory crowned sparrows that are just beginning to arrive.

This event was made possible through funding from the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority's Urban Grant Program.

Trip Difficulty: 2 miles, dirt trails, little or no elevation gain

Leaders: Carolyn Knight (408)857-0109 and Matthew Dodder

Meet: gated entrance off of Santa Teresa Blvd.

Directions: From 101S, take Bailey exit, turning right onto Santa Teresa. Proceed until just past the planted meridian strip and turn left to the green gate. From 85S, take the Bernal exit, turning left onto Santa Teresa. Proceed to the second green gate on the right hand side of the road, just before the start of the planted median strip. Latitude/Longitude: 37.210736, -121.747062

Facilities: None, no water

Parking Type and Fees: dirt pullout, no fees

Photo: Vinayak Hebbagil