San Mateo County Bird Alliance Field Trips
Filoli Field Trip
Pre-registration is required for all field trips!
- Advance registration and field trip size limit: SMCBA is currently requiring RSVPs for all field trips and is limiting the trip size. We are using Eventbrite as our reservation platform. Please no drop-ins.
- COVID Vaccination Required to Participate: SMCBA field trips are open to individuals who have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
- Participants required to sign liability waivers to participate: SMCBA is now using a electronic Waiver and Photographic Release Form that is sent to participants about a week before the event that is easily signed on your computer, tablet, or smartphone.
- Trip cancellations: If the weather is bad enough that you don't want to go on a field trip that day, chances are your trip leader doesn't want to go either! Field trips will typically be cancelled for heavy rain, but not for light mist.
- Please note that rain or Air Quality Index over 150 cancels, unless otherwise stated. Bring binoculars, water, snacks, sunscreen, and dress in layers as weather can change.
Note: All phone numbers are for Area Code 650, unless otherwise stated.
2025
eBird/GBBC Data Entry Best Practices document
Please note that rain or Air Quality Index over 150 cancels, unless otherwise state. Bring binoculars, water, snacks, sunscreen, and dress in layers as weather can change.
Pre-registration is required for all field trips!
>>> Registration links will be added when available <<<
The Great Backyard Bird Count is February 14 – 17
Join us for a "Tri-County" opportunity to expand your horizons and sightings!
Saturday, February 15
Natural Bridges State Park, Santa Cruz (8:30-12:00)
This 2-3 mile level trail includes a rocky beach with tidepools, open ocean, and shoreline cliffs great for viewing shorebirds, loons, grebes, and alcids. There's also freshwater wetlands, coastal scrub, and eucalyptus groves to search. Restrooms available but not at the meeting location.
Directions: From State Route 1 southbound entering Santa Cruz turn right on Western Ave, right on University Business Park, and left on Natural Bridges Dr and proceed to Delaware Ave. Approx. address 2340 Delaware Ave.
Leader: Nelle Lyons Register: https://bit.ly/3ZvpusR
Sunday, February 16
Pescadero State Nature Preserve, Pescadero (8:30-12:30)
We'll travel along dirt trails with some sand. Pescadero State Nature Preserve is an important wintering ground and breeding area for a diversity of birds. We expect to see a variety of birds and hope to see, or at least hear, the elusive Virginia Rail and/or Sora. Restrooms are available in the parking lot.
Directions: Take SR 1 south from Half Moon Bay. Cross the Pescadero Creek Bridge and turn into the first parking lot just south of the bridge (also known as the Cabrillo Highway South Parking). If you get to Pescadero Rd, you've gone too far south.
Leader: Nelle Lyons Register: https://bit.ly/4fan9tk
Monday, February 17
Jetty Road, Moss Landing and environs (8:30-3:00)
Meet at Jetty Rd parking lot of Moss Landing State Beach off Hwy 1 (approximately 1 mile north of the Power Plant smokestacks). We will meet between the entrance gate and the first restroom.
Leader: Nelle Lyons Register: https://bit.ly/3OOjM0f
Saturday, February 22
Bair Island, Redwood City (10:00 – 12:00)
Level dirt trails make this an easy outing for beginners. We should see a variety of ducks, shorebirds, and smaller songbirds.
Directions: From US 101 exit Whipple Ave. Heading east, it winds for 0.5 mile becoming E. Bayshore Rd, then Bair Island Rd. Meet at the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge Bair Island Trail parking lot.
Leader: JR Blair Register: https://bit.ly/3D3awCM
Monday, February 24
Filoli: Estate Trail, Woodside (9:30 – 12:00)
This is a 2–2.5 mile moderate walk on the Filoli Gardens and Estate trail. Habitats include mixed oak, redwood, madrone woodlands, riparian corridor, and historic horse pastures.
Directions: from Hwy 280, exit at Edgewood Rd and head west. At the T intersection, turn right onto Canada Rd. In ½ mile, turn left into the property. Park under the oaks on the left side of the lot and look for the leader there.
Leader: Kimberlie Moutoux Register: https://bit.ly/3Zts8PU
Wednesday, February 26
Mori Point, Pacifica (9:00 – 11:00)
Beginner and family-friendly bird walk on accessible level trails through coastal scrub, lagoon, salt marsh, beach, and ocean rocks. We will look for sparrows, finches, gulls, wading birds, seabirds, and more! Most of the walking is flat, with a slight incline toward the beach. However, the optional walk up to the elevated bluff is short but moderately steep and less accessible. Restroom and port-a-potty at the trailhead.
Directions: From SR 1 south of Sharp Park Rd, turn right on Mori Point Rd and follow it west to the parking area (798 Bradford Way) in Pacifica.
Leader: Emily Kim Register: https://bit.ly/41qPDeS
Saturday, March 1
Filoli: Spring Creek Trail, Woodside (9:30 – 12:00)
Join us for a 3 mile hike including the newly opened Spring Creek Trail through the Redwoods. This trail gains 100 foot elevation in ¼ mile on a dirt path- not recommended if you have mobility issues. We will spend most of the morning on the California Trail in the Oak and Madrone forest and the Spring Creek Trail through the Redwoods. The California Trail is over dirt paths with a slight incline and is one mile long. The Spring Creek Trail is ½ mile on a narrow dirt track with a 100 foot elevation gain. There is a possibility of seeing up to 45 bird species, 33 of which are year-round residents.
Leader: Kimberlie Moutoux Register: https://bit.ly/49ub7cS
Friday, March 7
Lower Windy Hill, Portola Valley (8:00-11:30)
This is a moderately strenuous, approx. 2-mile walk on dirt trails through a diverse range of habitats, which hosts oak specialties like White-breasted Nuthatch, Oak Titmouse, and Nuttall's Woodpecker, and a small pond that hosts Wood Ducks. Primitive restrooms in the parking lot.
Directions: Windy Hill Open Space Preserve lower parking lot, 555 Portola Valley Rd.
Leader: Donna Pomeroy Register: https://bit.ly/4g3L52A
Saturday, March 15
San Bruno Mountain, Brisbane (8:30 – 11:30)
San Bruno Mountain Park is a landmark of local and regional significance, standing as a unique open-space island in the midst of the peninsula's urbanization on the border of San Mateo and San Francisco Counties. It is home to a wealth of wildlife, hidden pockets of woodland and sheltered canyons. We'll walk about 1 mile on most flat dirt and asphalt trails. $6.00 Vehicle entry fee.
Directions: Meet in the parking lot, 555 Guadalupe Canyon Parkway.
Leader: Doug Brown Register: https://bit.ly/4ivwRcr
Saturday, March 15
Filoli: Estate Trail, Woodside (9:30 – 12:00)
This is a 2–2.5 mile moderate walk on the Filoli Gardens and Estate trail. Habitats include mixed oak, redwood, madrone woodlands, riparian corridor, and historic horse pastures.
Directions: from Hwy 280, exit at Edgewood Rd and head west. At the T intersection, turn right onto Canada Rd. In ½ mile, turn left into the property. Park under the oaks on the left side of the lot and look for the leader there.
Leader: Kimberlie Moutoux Register: https://bit.ly/4grI10a
Saturday, March 22
Palo Alto Baylands for Beginners/Families, Palo Alto (10:00 – 12:00)
Meet in the parking lot for the Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretive Center, 2775 Embarcadero Rd. for a leisurely walk on level gravel trails where we will explore this San Francisco Bay treasure. We should see a variety of shorebirds, waterbirds, and spring migrants. Loaner binoculars available.
Leader: JR Blair Register: https://bit.ly/3Dcm0UQ
Consider sharing your enthusiasm for birds by becoming a field trip leader or co-leader. One doesn't have to be an expert; we'll train you and provide support to make it an enjoyable experience for all! Or if you know of some other areas that would be good for outings, please email fieldtrips@smcbirdalliance.org
Additional outings will be added as they become available. Be sure to follow us on Facebook for last-minute opportunities!
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