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Red-shouldered Hawk by Brooke Miller

Pearson-Arastradero Preserve (Palo Alto)

This Palo Alto preserve offers a variety of habitats including grasslands, oak woodlands, and a small lake. We'll be on the lookout for a variety of raptors (e.g., White-tailed Kite, American Kestrel, Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawk) and woodland birds. We’ll also scan the small lake for ducks (e.g., Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead) and wading birds. Beginning birders welcome!

Trip Difficulty: 2-3 miles, packed-dirt trails, muddy or possibly muddy after rain, some hills (less than 300 ft elevation gain), steep in some sections, some shade, While our route is mostly gently rolling terrain, it is moderately inclined in a few short sections. If you benefit from hiking poles, you may wish to bring them on this trip.

Other Trip Notes: Please bring binoculars. Rain will cancel.

Leaders: Susan Tenney (408) 802-6184, Ann Hepenstal and Vicki Silvas-Young (408) 807-6993

Beginner Friendly, Family Friendly Ages 10 and up

Meet: Pearson-Arastradero Preserve parking lot

Directions: From I-280 take the Page Mill Rd exit. Go west for 0.4 miles and follow signs for Arastradero Rd. Turn right onto Arastradero Rd. The parking lot is on the right in 0.5 miles. Latitude/Longitude: 37.387182, -122.174742.

Facilities: ADA accessible bathroom, drinking water, cell coverage may be intermittent or non-existent

Parking Type and Fees: Dirt parking lot. Parking lot can fill quickly and there is no other parking nearby, so it is strongly recommended to arrive at 8AM when the parking lot opens

Questions? Email general questions to fieldtrips@scvbirdalliance.org or contact the trip leader for questions regarding the event.