Los Capitancillos Ponds (Winter):
Going on a Snipe Hunt
by Eve Meier
Wilson’s Snipe really do exist and Los Capitancillos Ponds in San José is my favorite place to hunt for them. Besides finding the elusive snipe, visit these ponds in the winter for ducks, geese, and gulls. The wide gravel trail is uncrowded making it easy to social distance.
Trip covers: November - February
Key Birds: waterfowl, Wilson’s Snipe, gulls, Merlin, American Goldfinch
One of the many ponds at Los Capitancillos Ponds. Photo: Eve Meier
How to Bird
Los Capitancillos Ponds are a series of percolation ponds between Camden Ave and Almaden Expy. A 2 mile-long, wide gravel trail (Guadalupe Creek Trail) runs between the ponds and the riparian area of Guadalupe Creek. About half-way along, the trail crosses under Meridian Ave but you can also cross at street level. I have the best luck with snipe and gulls on the ponds west of Meridian but the interesting geese are usually on the ponds east of Meridian. Ducks can be found on either side.
Guadalupe Creek Trail running alongside Los Capitancillos Ponds in November. Photo by Eve Meier.
When starting from the west end of the trail at Singletree Way, you will reach the first pond in ¼ mile. This pondless stretch of the trail is good for oak woodland species such as Oak Titmouse, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and Chestnut-backed Chickadee as well as Golden-crowned, White-crowned, and Lincoln’s Sparrow.
Upon reaching the ponds, start your “hunt” for Wilson’s Snipe. These birds breed in the north but spend their winters south. At this location, start looking for them in November. They are well camouflaged so you’ll need to carefully scan the banks of each pond. The snipe will most likely be totally still and often next to some low plants to better camouflage themselves. They are brown and buff with a distinctive heavy streaking on their heads and backs. And remember, these are hard to find birds. It may take you a few tries.
Wilson’s Snipe. Photo: Tom Grey
This is how you will usually see a Wilson’s Snipe. Photo: Brooke Miller
Also watch for ducks, geese, and gulls. Each pond tends to have a different makeup of birds so I like to check as many of the ponds as my time will allow. Ducks to watch for are Gadwall, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Ruddy Duck and more! Check the ebird barchart for a complete list. If you are having trouble identifying your ducks, note “where’s the white?”, a tip I picked up from taking the Cornell Lab of Ornithology “Be a Better Birder: Duck and Waterfowl Identification” class.
Male Ring-necked Duck. One of several black and white ducks that can be found at Los Capitancillos Ponds. Note the white spur on the shoulder and the white on the bill. Photo: Bill Walker
Male Bufflehead, another common black and white duck . Note the white on the back of the head. Photo: Tom Grey
Ring-billed, California, Herring, Iceland and Glaucous-winged Gull can all be found at this location. The best pond for gulls is the first pond west of Meridian Ave. The gulls have caused some issues for the neighborhood behind these ponds so, on occasion, there has been a falconer on site. He uses a Harris Hawk to chase off the birds. Read more here. It will be interesting to see if the gulls return this year.
Herring Gull by Tom Grey
Glaucous-winged Gull by Tom Grey
California Gull by Tom Grey
Ring-billed Gull by Carter Gasiorowski
Cackling Goose, Snow Goose, and Greater-white fronted Goose have all been seen here although it is not common. For some reason, the interesting geese seem to prefer the ponds east of Meridian Ave.
Be sure to check the trees in-between the ponds for Belted Kingfisher, Great-tailed Grackle and Merlin and watch for American Goldfinches and wintering sparrows in the riparian area.
Ready for More? Come back to Los Capitancillos Ponds in the spring and summer for Vaux’s Swifts, White-throated Swifts and swallows. Other good locations for Wilson’s Snipe are Sunnyvale WPCP near the radar tower, Los Gatos Creek County Park on the small island on the southmost pond, Coast-Casey Forebay at Charleston Slough and the San Tomás Aquino Creek Trail.
Interactive Map
Directions: From CA-85 in San Jose, exit Camden Ave. Drive south about 1 mile. After crossing over Blossom Hill Rd and just past the school, turn left onto Singletree Way. The trailhead is on your right in 0.2 miles (after the PG&E substation). Street parking. Latitude/Longitude: 37.234266, -121.899898
Alternatively, access the trail from Meridian Ave between Coleman Ave and Oslo Ln. Parking on Oslo Ln is very limited and not ADA but it's wheelchair accessible. Latitude/Longitude: 37.239054, -121.886644
There is no parking along Almaden Expressway.
Parking: Street parking
Fees: None
Public Transportation: VTA bus stop on Meridian Ave at Oslo Ln
Trail Hours: sunrise to sunset
Facilities: no bathrooms, drinking water or benches
Trip Mileage: 2 miles one way (easy to do shorter distances). If you would like to keep your mileage down, I would start from Meridian Ave (see the interactive map for where to park).
Trail Conditions: Wide, but rough gravel trail with no benches or shade. There are a couple of very small homeless encampments in the creek area.
Accessibility: The trail has a little bit of a slope near the Singletree Way entrance. The gravel trails may be too rocky for some wheelchair users.
Bikes: This is a great trip to do by bike.
Dogs: allowed on leash
More Information
Guadalupe Creek Trail Map
eBird hotspot: Los Capitancillos Ponds
Birding Basics with SCVAS Education & Outreach Specialist Carolyn Knight: Belted Kingfisher
All About Birds: Wilson’s Snipe
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, birding identification resources, and more.
Read “What to Look for Now” by SCVAS Executive Director Matthew Dodder.
Banner Photo Credit: Los Capitancillos Ponds in November by Eve Meier
Last Updated: 10/28/2022
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