Villa Montalvo (Spring/Summer):
Formal Gardens in the Redwoods
by Eve Meier
In the mood to get off the rugged trails and try something different? Visit the beautiful grounds of this Saratoga park. Meander the formal gardens of the villa while enjoying the various art installations and the birds.
Trip Covers: April - July
Key Birds: Vaux’s Swift, Cassin’s Vireo, Warbling Vireo
How to Bird
Located in the Saratoga Hills, Villa Montalvo was once the estate of Senator James Phelan. It is now an art center and county park. Along with the 1912 Mediterranean-style Villa, this park includes the estate's formal gardens, the two-acre Great Lawn, an outdoor theater, and 175 acres of trails through the redwoods.
The Great Lawn and the Villa by Eve Meier
On this trip you will scan the large lawn area, meander the formal garden, and visit the outdoor theater to have a seat while watching for the birds. This area is beautiful and there are plenty of benches all along this route if you’d like to take a moment to relax. After exploring the grounds of the estate, you can take the one-mile walk through the redwoods up to Lookout Point for views of the valley.
One of the many art installations at Villa Montalvo. Can you guess who might be using one of these nest boxes? Eve Meier
Starting from parking lot #4 (the only parking lot hikers can use), cross the street to start birding along the perimeter of the Great Lawn. A paved path will take you down hill towards the formal gardens. Along the way, watch for American Robins foraging in the grass or a Black Phoebe hunting for insects from a low bare branch. Spend some time quietly observing the small ponds and waiting for birds to visit for a quick drink. Scan the tops of the eucalyptus trees for Acorn Woodpecker, Black-headed Grosbeak and Western Tanager. Purple Finches enjoy this area too but are similar to the more common House Finches so study your field guide before heading out!
In the skies, watch for Band-tailed Pigeons in small flocks passing quietly overhead. Vaux’s Swifts may be making repeated passes overhead too. I usually hear their high-pitched twittering before I spot them in the sky. I believe they may be roosting in one of the villa’s chimneys.
Vaux’s Swifts spend most of the day in the air, catching insects in their rapid, twisting flight. Steve Tucker
Pass through the gates to explore the formal gardens. On the far end of this area, you will discover a small cactus garden. Look for Hutton’s Vireo, White-breasted Nuthatch and Chestnut-backed Chickadee in the oaks. Dark-eyed Juncos seem to be everywhere and the occasional Brown Creeper can be spotted.
The formal garden by Eve Meier
Hutton’s Vireo with almond-shaped eye ring, bulbous head, and white wing bar. Brooke Miller
After exploring these beautiful areas, I like to spend some time in the outdoor theater. Finding birds is easier at places where the trees meet the open areas - the edges. And, watching the edges is best done sitting down. Take a seat in the theater and wait for the birds to pop into view.
Outdoor theater by Eve Meier
In the spring, listen then look for both Cassin’s and Warbling Vireos. To me, both birds sound like they are asking a question, then answering it. Cassin’s Vireos sing in one or two syllables asking “Who me? No, you. Me? No, you” while the Warbling Vireos warble out a whole phrase that ends on a high note making the warble sound like a question.
Cassin’s Vireo with bold white eye-ring, gray head, and thick bill. Luis Villablanca
Warbling Vireo, a leaf-colored bird with a distinctive white eyebrow. Tom Grey
The theater can be a good location to watch for Orange-crowned, Wilson’s and Black-throated Gray Warblers. Find them by watching for small movements or listening for their quiet “chips”. You may also hear a Pacific-slope Flycatcher calling “peeWEET!” from the understory. This bird often favors one branch, so you can find it by locating the general area from which it is calling, then waiting for it to fly out from its perch to catch an insect and then watching it as it returns to the same branch.
After you’ve explored the grounds, take the one-mile walk up to Lookout Point. The trails pass through patches of chaparral, mixed hardwoods and redwood groves. You’ll have a chance to see Spotted Towhees, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Wrentits and more Brown Creepers. These trails are narrow and can be busy even on a weekday. Once on top, enjoy the views of the valley below!
Lookout Point
Ready for More?
There are 3 other small parks in Saratoga that are close by and good for birding: Saratoga Quarry Park, Hakone Gardens and Wildwood Park. Saratoga Quarry Park on Big Basin Way is very steep but sits alongside Saratoga Creek and has a small seasonal pond. Hakone Estate and Gardens, also on Big Basin Way, is a more than 100 year old Japanese garden which requires an entrance fee. Wildwood Park is a shady, urban park in downtown Saratoga with a lawn, picnic tables and a playground which also sits alongside Saratoga Creek.
Interactive Map
Directions: From CA-85 in Saratoga, exit Saratoga Ave south. In 2 miles, turn left onto Saratoga-Los Gatos Blvd. In ½ mile, turn right onto Montalvo Road. Continue through the hilly neighborhood for 0.6 miles then turn left onto Piedmont Road. Continue through the park, up the hill, past the house, then downhill to parking lot 4. Latitude/Longitude: 37.244100, -122.029403
Parking: Paved parking lot
Fees: None
Park and Trail Hours: 8 am - 5 pm. The occasional special event may affect park hours. I recommend checking the park website before heading out.
Facilities: Public restroom and drinking fountain at PARKING LOT 4. Benches are located throughout the garden areas. Please note that picnicking is not allowed at this park.
Trip Mileage: Variable: 1 mile to explore the gardens and house, another 2 miles roundtrip to visit the Lookout Point.
Trail Conditions: Variable: lawn, paved, and crushed granite in the garden and around the house; single track dirt trails traverse the hills behind the house. Crowded on weekends. The trails behind the villa are mostly shady.
Accessibility: I do not recommend this trip for those in walkers or wheelchairs; the lawn and garden area sits on a slope that could make this trip difficult. There’s a small set of stairs leading into the lawn area from the parking lot. If they are a problem, you could access the lawn from another spot. Strollers would work fine here and young children would enjoy exploring the grounds.
Bikes: Bikes not allowed.
Dogs: Dogs on a 6 foot leash are allowed in the upper trails; however, they are restricted from the botanical gardens and grounds of Villa Montalvo.
More Information
eBird hotspot: Villa Montalvo
All About Birds: Cassin’s Vireo, Warbling Vireo, and Vaux’s Swift
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: Villa Montalvo by Eve Meier
Last Updated: 6/10/2022
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