Los Gatos Creek Trail at Meridian (Spring):
Spring Migrants in San Jose
by Brooke A Miller
For great habitat in an urban setting, visit this paved trail along the Los Gatos Creek in San José. It’s the perfect location for spring migrants!
Trip Covers: mid-April – mid-June
Key Birds: Black-chinned Hummingbird, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cassin’s Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Swainson’s Thrush, Hooded Oriole, Bullock’s Oriole, Orange-crowned Warbler, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting
How to Bird
The 11-mile long, paved Los Gatos Creek Trail runs from the Lexington Dam in Los Gatos to Meridian Ave in the Willow Glen neighborhood of San Jose. This guide covers the northernmost 0.8 miles of the trail. You’ll want to bird this section of the trail more than once during spring, as migrants come through at different times. The best time to bird in spring is early morning or late afternoon. You will need binoculars and, if you have a camera, you may want to bring that as well. Spring birds are mostly colorful. And, don’t forget to bring your ears, as spring birds sing, sing, sing!
St Elizabeth Drive entrance to the Los Gatos Creek Trail at Meridian.
Convenient on-street parking is available near the St. Elizabeth Drive entrance (see the interactive map). From the trail entrance, turn left to walk downstream (northeast) towards Meridian Avenue. Keep your eyes and ears open for Wilson’s Warbler usually at eye-level or below; Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Black-headed Grosbeak and Warbling Vireo at eye-level or above; and Hooded Oriole which are often found high in palm trees.
Pacific-slope Flycatcher by Brooke A Miller
Black-headed Grosbeak by Brooke Miller
In spring, both Hermit Thrush, a winter resident, and Swainson’s Thrush, a spring migrant, are possible, especially at locations #1 and #2 on the map. These look-a-like skulky birds are most easily detected from their song. Both Hermit and Swainson’s Thrushes have an ethereal flute song, with one main difference: Swainson’s Thrushes song start low and spiral up; while Hermit Thrush songs start with a single note, then spiral up, then another single note, then spiral down. You can listen to them here: Swainson’s Thrush song and Hermit Thrush song.
Hermit Thrush by Brooke Miller
Swainson’s Thrush by Brooke Miller
Once you’ve reached Meridian (#3 on map), double back to the St. Elizabeth Drive entrance, then continue walking upstream (southwest) towards milepost 2.75 (#4 on map). At this milepost, it is not unusual to find a Black-chinned Hummingbird sitting at the top of a snag. Continue walking upstream, often more than one Black-chinned Hummingbird can be found between the St. Elizabeth Drive entrance and the pedestrian bridge (shown on map). To hear some of the Black-chinned Hummingbird sounds click on the following link: Black-chinned Hummingbird Sounds.
Black-chinned Hummingbird by Brooke Miller
Also along this stretch, be on the lookout for Western Tanager, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Cassin’s Vireo, Black-throated Gray Warbler, and Orange-crowned Warbler.
Black-throated Gray Warbler by Brooke A Miller
Western Tanager by Brooke Miller
Once you cross the bridge, you will bird as far as under the overpass near Blackford Elementary School (#5 on map). You may see more Western Tanagers here, as well as any or all of the birds already mentioned, as well as Mallards and Canada Geese in the creek, and Swallows (Northern Rough-winged and Violet-green) overhead. You can then double back for anything you might have missed on your first round.
Ready for More? Willow Street Frank Bramhall Park is close by, and hosts a number of good spring migrants especially in the western-most section of the park. If you’re on a bike, you can easily follow the Los Gatos Creek Trail upstream to visit Los Gatos Creek County Park and Vasona Lake County Park or go all the way to Lexington Reservoir.
Interactive Map
Directions to the St. Elizabeth Drive Entrance
From Southbound 280, take the Meridian Avenue Exit, keep right and follow signs for Meridian Avenue and merge onto Meridian Avenue. Turn right on Curci after KFC, then turn left onto St Elizabeth Drive and go 0.3 miles.
From Northbound 280, take the exit for Race St/Southwest Expressway, keep left to continue toward Southwest Expressway, and continue onto Southwest Expressway. In 0.5 miles turn left onto La Barbera Drive, then the first left onto McKinley Avenue, go 0.2 miles and turn right onto St Elizabeth Drive and go 0.2 miles.
Latitude Longitude: 37.304358, -121.916799
Parking: On-street parking
Fees: None
Public Transportation: VTA Routes 25 and 64B stop at Meridian and Curci. It’s just a few steps on Meridian to the Los Gatos Creek Trail.
Trail Hours: 24/7
Facilities: No restrooms of any kind, no drinking fountains, no picnic tables. There are a couple/few concrete benches and there is good cell phone service.
Trip Mileage: 1.5 miles round trip
Trail Conditions: Paved fairly wide trail, areas of shade
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Bikes: Allowed but not recommended for this trip
Dogs: Dogs are allowed on 6-ft leash
More Information
eBird hotspot: Los Gatos Creek Trail – Meridian
All About Birds: Black-chinned Hummingbird
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: Black-chinned Hummingbird by Brooke Miller
Last Updated: 5/23/2022
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