Date: 4/28/26 6:57 am From: Ryan L. via groups.io <ryanbirding...> Subject: [southbaybirds] Field Trip Report: Evening at Stile Ranch and Calero Creek Trail 4/27
Yesterday evening, 6 birders braved the South Bay rush hour traffic to join Carlos and me at the south side of Santa Teresa County Park, Stile Ranch entrance, for evening birding. We had good weather with dramatic cloudscapes approaching sunset.
Before the trip started, we could hear a lot of singing and we saw two Western Kingbirds by the trailhead “kiting” over the field. We set out west along the trail following the base of the hills. The hillside was full of birdsong: Lazuli Bunting, Lark Sparrow, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Wrentit, Spotted Towhee, California Thrasher. On the ground, we saw California Quail, Wild Turkey, deer, and at least a dozen jackrabbits. We eventually got great views of both male and female Lazuli Bunting posing nicely on the barbed wire fence. We saw even more Lark Sparrow with the patterned face, spot on the breast. We remarked how they seem chunkier than we all realized or remembered. Along the trail, there was one oak that seemed to draw a number of birds, including Western Bluebird, Western Tanager, Lazuli Bunting, and more. Lesser Goldfinch and unshy Bushtits were abundant. In the sky, we saw White-throated Swift, Tree Swallow, Cliff Swallow, and flyovers by Forster’s Tern and Double-crested Cormorant. Our only raptors were American Kestrel and one Turkey Vulture just before sunset.
We found 35 species in two hours along the Calero Creek Trail from Stile Ranch entrance to the Santa Teresa Creek crossing and back.
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.
