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Hutton's Vireo by Sarah Chan
Mandarin Bilingual Field Trip 31: Stevens Creek County Park (Cupertino)
This Cupertino park in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains features a beautiful riparian corridor along Stevens Creek, along with oak woodlands and chaparral-covered slopes. The rich diversity of habitats makes it one of the top local destinations for both migrating birds and resident breeders.
With the gentle sound of flowing water, deer quietly moving through the woods, and birdsong echoing across the hills, the forest feels both peaceful and alive. Seasonal transitions are underway. While some wintering species may begin to taper off, early spring migrants should start arriving. Breeding season activity will also increase, bringing more singing, display behavior, and movement throughout the forest.
Route for the Trip:
Parking Lot → Chestnut Picnic Area → Villa Maria → Bayview Picnic Area (restroom break; possible sapsucker activity) → Rim Trail → Parking Lot
This loop takes us through creekside habitat, mature woodland, open picnic areas, and scenic ridge sections, offering excellent opportunities for a wide range of species.
Species Highlights:
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Hutton's Vireo
Steller's Jay
Trip Difficulty: 1 mile, paved trails, gravel trails, packed-dirt trails, lawns (potentially wet), rocky trails, uneven or rutted trails, some hills (less than 300 ft elevation gain), hilly (elevation gain over 300 ft)
Leaders: Junyan Wang (475) 414-9098, Sarah Chan (650) 549-4576, Kevin Cheung (510) 325-8568, Joyce Zhang (650) 656-5830
Other Languages: English is the primary language of this field trip, but other languages spoken by our trip leaders include Mandarin and Cantonese.
Family Friendly Ages 10 and up, Beginner Friendly
Meet: Chestnut Picnic Area parking lot
Directions: From I-280 in Cupertino take Foothill Expy exit. Continue south on Foothill Blvd for about 2 miles (it becomes Stevens Canyon Rd). Turn left into the first park entrance and meet in the Chestnut Picnic Area parking lot (first parking lot on your left). Lat/Long: 37.306812, -122.073302
Facilities: bathrooms
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: Hutton's Vireo by Sarah Chan
Questions? Email general questions to fieldtrips@scvbirdalliance.org or contact the trip leader for questions regarding the event.