Date: 1/31/26 12:45 pm From: Ryan L. via groups.io <ryanbirding...> Subject: [southbaybirds] Field Trip Report: Hellyer CP 1/31/26
Fifteen birders joined Amanda Newlove and me for a fun beginner SCVBA field trip to Hellyer County Park on a winter day with perfect weather. We saw 37 species.
We saw many signs of the transition to spring starting even though it’s still January. Yellow-rumped Warblers have started to transition to breeding plumage. Tree Swallows and Western Bluebirds were investigating a cavity in a sycamore. The lake was fairly quiet, though the usual Mallards, American Coots, and Canada Geese were present. We identified one Ring-billed Gull on the lake (many more flew overhead), a Pied-billed Grebe, and 5 Ruddy Ducks. The raptors seen and heard were: White-tailed Kite, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, and Turkey Vulture. The group had good views of a female Nuttall’s Woodpecker and White-breasted Nuthatch. At the end, we found Killdeer with one excavating some mulch for a possible nest. One additional non-bird highlight was a herd of Tule Elk on the hillside across US-101.
Do not disclose information that identifies the location of nesting birds of any species, to minimize stress on the nesting birds and the risk of vandalism or abuse.
