Kelley Park (Year-Round):
Birding in Downtown San Jose
by Chris Johnson
Staying in downtown San José and hoping to fit in some birding during a packed convention schedule? Check out Kelley Park! Only two miles from the downtown area with creekside trails and a nearby Japanese Garden, the birding is rewarding year-round.
Trip covers: Year-round
Key Birds: Hooded Merganser, Black-chinned Hummingbird (rare), Hutton's Vireo, Bullock's Oriole, Black-headed Grosbeak
How to Bird
Navigating the Park: Shortly after the parking lot (<500 ft.) at 1650 Senter Road, you will see Coyote Creek which winds its way through most of the park. The creek runs north to south and a creekside trail on the east side follows it in both directions. As you head south along the creekside trail, you will see the disc golf course on your right which was built upon a remnant orchard. To the northwest is the Japanese Friendship Garden, which has an access point adjacent to the park bathrooms. Redwood and oak groves are scattered throughout the park, along with various non-native and (recent) native plantings.
Japanese Friendship Garden.
The southbound creekside trail is unpaved, while most of the trails running through the center Kelley Park and the Friendship Garden are paved. Kelley Park itself has numerous oaks and conifers and offers plenty of shade. In all seasons, it is best to begin by birding the southbound creekside trail early in the morning and save the shaded areas of Kelley Park and the Friendship Garden for later in the day. In the summer this will provide shade during the hottest time of the day, and in the winter the sun will warm up the unshaded areas first (which usually means more bird activity).
Southbound Creek Trail running between Coyote Creek and the disc golf course. Photo by Chris Johnson
Kelley Park History: The park was once a farm and orchard owned by the Kelley family, and in 1951 they sold the farm to the city of San Jose. The city intended to develop the park for a municipal golf course but they lacked sufficient funds, though the nearby professional disc golf course serves as an homage to the original purchase.
On to the birds! From the primary entrance, walk to the southbound creekside trail and head south; the creek will be on your left and the disc golf course on your right. The orchard and disc golf course may host Western Bluebirds, Northern Flickers, and Western Tanagers, depending on the season. Check for Green Heron and Belted Kingfisher any time of the year in the creek. During migration, check for migrants along the creek such as Wilson's Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Western Wood Pewee, Willow Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, and Cassin's Vireo. In the summer, look for Black-chinned Hummingbirds (rare) nesting along the creek as well as other nesting birds such as Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, and Warbling Vireo.
During migration check for species such as Wilson’s Warbler along the creek. Photo by Chris Johnson
Black-headed Grosbeak, Hooded Oriole, and Bullock's Oriole will nest in the summer along the creek as well, and may offer up good photo opportunities as they can be accustomed to people. In the winter, look for uncommon ducks such as Hooded Mergansers and Wood Duck in the creek itself, and check for Varied Thrush in the underbrush and the occasional White-throated Sparrow (rare). Hutton's Vireo, White-breasted Nuthatch, and Acorn Woodpecker are also noteworthy year-round residents, as they are less common or missing from some creekside locations around Santa Clara County (e.g. Ulistac). As the park gets few birders, eBird data is incomplete for much of the year, so the exact frequency of species throughout the year may be unknown, and many of the less common species are poorly documented (e.g. no records of Rufous Hummingbird, which are almost certainly present in March-April).
After walking southbound along Coyote Creek for up to a mile (the trail continues to wrap around the disc golf course), return the same way and bird the central areas of the park. This includes the redwood groves, oak groves, and native/non-native plantings. In winter, the redwood groves may host Pine Siskins (listen for their wheezy zipper call... zzzrreee), Red-breasted Sapsucker, and even Pacific Wren (rare). As you walk north, remember to bird along the northbound sections of Coyote Creek (the creek is now on your right). A stop at the Japanese Friendship Garden could also be productive as there are some sources of water, though the non-native plantings generally host fewer species.
One of the many Redwood Groves scattered throughout the park. Photo by Chris Johnson
The park is generally kept very clean, though currently there is a small amount of digging equipment and a few dirt piles where construction is taking place.
Ready for More? To the south of the Kelley Park entrance sit several museums on park grounds full of oaks and other non-native plantings. These areas can be accessed at various times of year, depending on the cultural events that are taking place.
Interactive Map
Directions: From I-280, exit 10th Street south. Continue south on S 10th St, turn left onto Keyes St, then turn right onto Senter Rd. In 0.5 mi turn left into the parking lot.
Parking: Paved parking lots. The primary access to Kelley Park is at 1650 Senter Road Latitude/Longitude: 37.320710, -121.860213. If parking is tight, go further north on Senter Road and park at the entrance to Happy Hollow Latitude/Longitude: 37.323756, -121.863204. Make sure your car is locked!
Fees: Day-use parking fees. See the park website for more information.
Public Transportation: VTA bus route 73 runs along Senter Ave
Kelley Park Hours: 8 am to half an hour past sunset.
Japanese Friendship Garden Hours: opens 10am - closes spring 6pm, summer 7pm, fall 5pm, winter 4pm
Facilities: Wheelchair accessible bathrooms (open at 8 am), water fountains, benches, and picnic tables
Trip Mileage: Variable
Trail Conditions: Paved trails in the central area of the park, and some unpaved trails along Coyote Creek (e.g. southbound trail); there are some homeless encampments along Coyote Creek.
Accessibility: Mostly level, paved trails in the central area of the park that should be wheelchair accessible
Bikes: Allowed but not recommended for this trip
Dogs: Dogs are allowed on 6-ft leash; no animals are allowed in the History Park, Japanese Friendship Garden or Happy Hollow Park & Zoo.
More Information:
Kelley Park Website
Kelley Park Map
eBird hotspot: Kelley Park
More Resources
For more trips like this one, visit Self-Guided Field Trips.
Visit the SCVAS Birding Resources page for more information on where to bird, our birding community, bird identification resources and more.
Read “What to Look for Now” by SCVAS Executive Director Matthew Dodder.
Banner Photo Credit: Anna’s Hummingbird by Chris Johnson
Last Updated: 05/22/2022
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