Other Spots on the Mid-County Coast

This old limestone quarry in Santa Cruz near the U.C. Santa Cruz campus offers a pond and marsh, riparian growth, and various exotic plantings. Go north on Spring St from High St, then left on Quarry Ln. Park at the end of the lane and take the trail across a small drainage. In spring and summer this is another good spot to see swallows, Vaux’s and White-throated swifts, and Hooded and Bullock’s orioles. Vagrant landbirds have been found during migration periods and winter.

This city park in north-central Santa Cruz is best known for its busy sports fields, swimming pool, and picnic areas. The western part of the park, however, includes little used (and seldom birded) trails along an interesting forested slope with birds of redwood and mixed evergreen forests and oak woodland.  Breeding species include Cooper’s Hawk, Allen’s Hummingbird, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Warbling Vireo, Wilson’s Warbler, and Pine Siskin. From Hwy 1, take Hwy 9 (River St) north for one block, and turn left on Coral St. At the end of Coral St turn left on Evergreen St, and park at the end of the road. Take the path to the southwest to the Wagner Grove Picnic Area, a redwood grove along a small creek. Trails begin from here that run along and up a forested slope. Trails to the right (northeast) eventually connect with trails in Pogonip Open Space Preserve. Another access point for trails is at the intersection of Harvey West Blvd and Dubois St. Also check the historic Evergreen Cemetery, set in a largely natural forest setting along Evergreen St southeast of Harvey West Park.

The lower reaches of Branciforte Creek and its riparian forest are accessible along Market St in Santa Cruz. Go north on Market St from Water St. A paved pathway leading downstream from Market St begins between 414 and 420 Market St, and a short pathway leads upstream at Market St’s intersection with Avalon St, beside 503 Avalon. This corridor has produced many fall and winter vagrant landbirds. Downstream of Market St, Black-crowned Night-Herons are sometimes found roosting in California bay trees.

This large park has a golf course, a “disc golf” course, playing fields and picnic areas, and large stands of Monterey pine, eucalyptus, and native live oak along with mixed evergreen forest. Take North Branciforte Ave from Water St in Santa Cruz, turning left on Upper Park Rd to the golf course. Park and bird where the road enters an area of live oaks beyond the clubhouse, and also in the pines near the end of the road that goes right after you pass the clubhouse. Look for sapsuckers (especially in acacias) and other birds of the conifer forest (including wintering Hermit Warbler and Red Crossbill (during irruption years). Places where this park abuts Branciforte Dr are also often worth birding, especially in spring migration and the nesting season (weekdays or early morning on weekends are best). From Water St in Santa Cruz take Market St north; this becomes Branciforte Dr north of Hwy 1. Access to the park occurs at 1.1, 1.8, 2.1, and 2.3 miles from Water St. All these places lead to forest areas, and the last three provide birding along Branciforte Creek.

This small county-owned park in Live Oak is bordered by an unnamed drainage with access to willow riparian forest and some winter-flowering eucalyptus. Enter the park from the end of Jose St (off Capitola Rd), or the end of Eddy St (off 7^th Ave).

Quick searches for riparian birds and fall and winter rarities along Rodeo Gulch can be made at Brommer St County Park and Coffee Lane Park in Live Oak. Brommer St County Park is along 30^th Ave just north of Brommer St. To reach Coffee Lane Park, take Gross Rd west from 41^st Ave in Capitola and watch for Coffee Lane on the right side. The park is at the end of the lane.

This Capitola riparian corridor has been interesting in migration (especially fall) and is easy to bird in a short time. It lies along Monterey Ave just east of its intersection with Bay St. Search among the cottonwoods, willows, and oaks upstream of the park’s small lawn area.

This under-birded coastal upland area is state park land between New Brighton State Beach and Seacliff State Beach, with grassland, scrub, coast live oak woodland, and groves of Monterey pine and eucalyptus. It is birdiest in fall (when several rarities have been found here) and winter, but may reward a visit in any season. From Hwy 1 take Park Ave south, then turn left (east) on McGregor Rd. Go 0.6 mile, turn right on New Brighton Rd and park before crossing the railroad tracks. Walk east along the tracks about 250 yards until reaching a wide trail that crosses the path. This trail loops around the park’s open central area, bounded by Pot Belly Gulch on the west and Borregas Gulch on the east. Oaks in both gulches attract migrants, and there are often lots of birds in the scrub near the railroad tracks.

To connect a visit here to nearby New Brighton State Beach, walk south along New Brighton Rd past the railroad tracks and turn right on the first unnamed road on the right after Pine Tree Lane. This road leads to the northeast corner of the New Brighton campground.

Here is a county-owned coastal access in the Rio Del Mar – Seascape area, including a drainage with willow riparian, eucalyptus, and other vegetation. It is liveliest in the non-breeding season, when it may produce rare landbirds. From Hwy 1 take the Rio Del Mar Blvd exit and go west, keeping to the right to stay on Rio Del Mar. After 0.6 mile turn left on Townsend Dr. Go 0.8 mile to its end and turn left of Cliff Dr. A short way ahead is the parking area for Hidden Beach. A path on the south side of the small drainage leads to the beach. Benches above the beach offer a good vantage from which to scope birds on the bay. Birds of the beach and bay are similar to those of nearby Seacliff State Beach. Check the willows, eucalyptus, and other vegetation in the drainage for migrant landbirds. Another path, this one along the north edge of the drainage, begins where a seasonal stream first flows onto the beach. Also, try the path that leads upstream from the parking area and passes under the railroad trestle.