Mission City Memorial Park (Fall/Winter)
by Ann Hepenstal
Historic Mission City Memorial Park in Santa Clara offers mature redwoods and oaks, hedges of privet trees, and grassy areas. It is the final resting place of many local residents including some early immigrants to the area. As a City Park, it’s well-maintained and local residents enjoy walking the grounds.
Trip covers: October - March
Key Birds: Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Flicker, Black Phoebe, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Townsend’s Warbler
How to Bird
Start at the cemetery office building. Proceed north along Maple Avenue, staying alert for birds in the area and enjoying the peaceful setting. At the circle lawn, put your binoculars on the palm tree and hope to spot cavity-nesting birds or an early-arriving Hooded Oriole (in March).
The large Palm Tree in the circle lawn. Photo by Ann Hepenstal.
Continue north to the edge of the cemetery. Check the hedge along the fence for birds foraging in the bushes and among the privet berries. You may be able to spot a Townsend’s Warbler! Wander among the mature trees, looking for birds enjoying this habitat including Yellow-rumped Warblers, Chestnut-backed Chickadees and more.
Northern Flicker by Brooke Miller
Now wander east towards Winchester Boulevard. Take a few moments to explore the memorial stones, and the local history and stories represented here, including the very impressive memorial to Sarah Elizabeth Fox. The family gave this to the City of Santa Clara as a community vault for cremains; it now contains some 1000 urns! Sarah herself is buried in the Fox family grave area; see the link to the self-guided tour of the cemetery.
Sarah E. Fox memorial (mausoleum not open to the public). Photo by Ann Hepenstal.
Keep checking the trees you pass to check for birds, and listen for Northern Flickers calling as they fly around the cemetery! Work your way southwards, paralleling Winchester Boulevard. Watch for Black Phoebes, Yellow-rumped Warblers and Western Bluebirds in the grassy gravesite areas. Scan the skies for soaring Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, and occasional California Gulls. When you reach South Boulevard, head west and proceed back to the cemetery office and your car.
Watch for Anna’s Hummingbirds enjoying the Salvia leucantha (Mexican Bush Sage). Photo by Ann Hepenstal.
Bluebird nesting box awaiting its next occupants
Take a short rest on the benches in front of the office and watch the water feature, just in case you can spot birds enjoying the water.
Ready for More? Visit throughout the year to watch bird species leave and arrive; nesting behaviors; and the changes of the seasons.
Interactive Map
Location: Mission City Memorial Park is located at 420 N. Winchester Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95050.
Parking: Access the cemetery through the Dolores Avenue gate. Park along the street near the cemetery office building. Latitude/ Longitude: 37.334988, -121.952689
Fees: none
Public Transportation: The VTA 60 bus stops at Dolores Avenue and Winchester Boulevard.
Park Hours: Monday - Saturday 8AM-4:30PM, Sunday closed
Facilities: Benches. Strong cell phone signal. Ordinarily there are bathroom facilities but not open during the Public Health emergency. Nearest public bathrooms 0.5 miles at Everett Alvarez Jr Park on Rosita Ave/Los Padres Blvd
Trip Mileage: Varies depending on your route, but easily adapted to the length that you want. Typically less than a mile.
Trail Conditions: Paved roads run throughout the cemetery and can be used for most of this suggested route.
Accessibility: Paved roads are flat and easy to roll on.
Bikes: Bikes are allowed but not recommended for this trip.
Dogs: Allowed on 6-ft leash
More Information:
eBird hotspot: Mission City Memorial Park
Information on Mission City Cemetery
Self-guided walking tour of the cemetery sharing its history and information on local residents of historical interest who are buried there (but note that information on Silas Emerson is incorrect!)
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: Townsend’s Warbler by Dave Zittin
Last Updated: 05/22/2022
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