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Great Blue Heron by Jennifer Oliver

Field Trip: Winter at Spring Valley

Let’s go see what’s hanging out at Spring Valley in February! A variety of ducks fly in and out including shovelers, ruddies, Buffleheads, teals, Wood Ducks and a pair of black Muscovies have been seen. We will most likely find a variety of hawks, woodpeckers, herons, and possibly an eagle or sapsucker. Some wintering birds are still there including six species of sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, vireos, pipits. We may see some early swallows and a Phainopepla has been seen recently. We never know exactly what we’ll find but we know they will be amazing!

Trip Difficulty: 1.5 miles, paved trails, gravel trails, packed-dirt trails, lawns (potentially wet), muddy or possibly muddy after rain, rocky trails, uneven or rutted trails, some hills (less than 300 ft elevation gain), steep in some sections

Leaders: Dori Faust (408) 489-9178, Melanie Barnett and Bruce Faust (408) 384-6165

Family Friendly Ages 10 and up, Beginner Friendly

Meet: parking lot across from the horse corral

Directions: From I-680 in Milpitas, exit E Calaveras Blvd and go east for about 2.5 miles. OR, from Mountain View or Palo Alto, take 101 south to 237 east, which turns into Calaveras. Continue past the Ed Levin sign on the left to the Spring Valley entrance on your right, across from the fire station. At the entrance kiosk, turn left and continue to the last parking lot across from the horse corral. Longitude Latitude: 37.445784, -121.847511

Facilities: ADA accessible bathroom, bathroom, cell coverage may be intermittent or non-existent

Parking Type and Fees: paved parking lot, parking fees (use Santa Clara County Park annual pass, otherwise it is $6.00 per car, credit card only)

Banner Photo: Great Blue Heron by Jennifer Oliver

Questions? Email general questions to fieldtrips@scvbirdalliance.org or contact the trip leader for questions regarding the event.