TRIP POLICY: Please limit your sign-ups to 1 weekend trip and 2 weekday trips per month. Also, please take a moment to read our other policies here.
Great Blue by Heron Jennifer Oliver
Almaden Lake for Beginners (San Jose)
San Jose’s Almaden Lake Park is a neighborhood park, located in Almaden Valley. This park is fun year-round, but early spring is particularly exciting for birding this park, because the heron nests on the bird sanctuary island put on quite a show! One can also see ducks and geese, pied-billed grebes, mergansers, coots, and cormorants in the lake. Herons have been seen creating nests and raising their young on the island. Many smaller birds are attracted to the riparian habitats of Los Alamitos Creek and the Guadalupe River that converge at this location. Look for the bluebird nest boxes!
Ducklings and goslings also begin to hatch around mid-March, and early migrant birds such as swallows begin to return as early as late February.We’ll begin our outing by observing the heron activity on the small island where four distinct types of herons nest every spring season. After that, we’ll explore a very small portion of the trail that circumnavigates the lake, allowing us to enjoy the early spring activity of the other bird species that call Almaden Lake home.
Trip Difficulty: less than 1 mile, paved, lawn and packed dirt route, little or no elevation gain, some shade
Other Trip Notes: Bring binoculars. If you need loaner binoculars, please let us know. We have 3 pairs available.
Leaders: Peg Albrets (408) 891-3554, Eve Meier (408) 569-9391 and Linda Sullivan (408) 540-8420
Beginner Friendly, Family Friendly Ages 10 and up
Meet: near blue bathrooms in the Winfield Blvd parking lot
Directions: From CA-85 in San Jose, exit Almaden Expy. Drive south for 0.8 miles, turn left onto Coleman Rd, then make the first right onto Winfield Blvd. Park entrance is on your right in less than ½ mile. Latitude/Longitude: 37.2389964, -121.8698891
Facilities: ADA compliant bathroom, drinking water, cell service
Parking Type and Fees: parking fee for the paved parking lot (credit card only) or free street parking
Questions? Email general questions to fieldtrips@scvbirdalliance.org or contact the trip leader for questions regarding the event.