Pond A2E and Crittenden Marsh (Summer)
Totally Terns and Snowy Plovers Too
by Eve Meier
Summer is the time to visit Salt Pond A2E in Mountain View. You will have an opportunity to spot up to 6 species of terns plus the Snowy Plovers that are “next door” in Crittenden Marsh (Stevens Creek Nature Study Area). While the parking lot can be crowded at times on the weekends, once you are out on the trails, the crowds disperse.
Trip Covers: July - September
Key Birds: Snowy Plover, Least Tern (rare), Caspian Tern, Forster’s Tern, Elegant Tern, Brown Pelican
How to Bird
Start by parking at the Shoreline Kite Flying Area parking lot (just north of the dog park) and walk east through the very unattractive parking lot E towards Moffett Airfield. Make a left at the pump house (shown on the interactive map below) then cross over Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh and Stevens Creek using the two pedestrian bridges (also show on interactive map). While you are crossing the bridges, notice the Cliff and Barn Swallows flying around you. They nest under the bridge. After you have crossed the bridges, you are on the Bay Trail. Turn left to head north towards the bay.
Two pedestrian bridges that cross over Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh and Stevens Creek. Eve Meier
Crittenden Marsh (also known as Stevens Creek Nature Study Area) will be on your right. It’s flat, salty, and seemingly barren. But, stop now and again to slowly scan the salt flats for Snowy Plovers. These birds can be tricky to find so take your time. I often see them on the east most salt flat. They are often hunkered down and blend in well with their environment. Sometimes, you can pick them out by their distinctive foraging behavior in which they run, pause, then run again to catch prey from the surface of the salt flats. Killdeer and Semipalmated Plover could also be out there but Snowy Plovers are smaller, lighter in color, and lack the single neck band of the Semipalmated Plover or the double neck band of the Killdeer. Review your field guide before heading out.
Salts flats where Snowy Plovers can be found. Eve Meier
Snowy Plover. SCVAS Board Member Bill Walker
At the trail intersection (1 mile from the parking lot), you will have reached Salt Pond A2E. Turn right onto the Bay Trail. As you continue your walk, Crittenden Marsh will be on your right, Salt Pond A2E will be on your left and there is a bench in 0.8 miles that makes a good stopping point.
Trail intersection where you turn right to follow the Bay Trail. Continue straight for the Stevens Creek Delta. Eve Meier
Along the way and on your left, start scanning for terns. Become familiar with the call of the Forster’s Terns, they are often the most common tern out here. The young incessantly beg for food, and the adults call back to them. Also listen for the occasional loud raspy call of the much larger Caspian Tern. The Least Terns (July/August) are very small and have a tinkly call, they should be easy to pick out if they are around. Elegant Terns (August/September) are seen here as well and have a thinner, slightly downturned bill. Common Terns and Black Terns are rare but have been spotted here. Watch SCVAS Executive Director Matthew Dodder’s video “The Terns of Summer” before heading out.
Elegant Tern. SCVAS Volunteer Garrett Lau
Caspian Tern. SCVAS Member Elizabeth Steward
Forster’s Tern. SCVAS Volunteer Carter Gasiorowski
Besides terns, there are also plenty of American White Pelicans, California Gulls, Pied-billed Grebes, Snowy Egrets, Great Egrets and Double-crested Cormorants. Scan the large groups of American White Pelicans for a few Brown Pelicans. On occasion these birds will partake in a feeding frenzy in which a large number of pelicans form a raft on the water’s surface while hundreds of terns and gulls noisily swoop and dive from above.
As you continue your walk to the bench, remember to keep checking Crittenden Marsh on your right for Snowy Plovers. Maybe you’ll see SFBBO Plover and Tern Program Director Ben Pearl conducting one of his weekly surveys. He always takes the time to answer a question or two. Upon reaching the bench, take a leisurely break to scan the pond and the salt flat one last time before returning to the parking lot.
Ready for More? If you have some extra time, stop by the Stevens Creek Delta before heading home. To reach the delta, return to the trail intersection where you made the right hand turn to stay on the Bay Trail. This time turn right to head out towards the bay. Salt Pond A2E will be on your right and Stevens Creek will be on your left. The trail dead-ends at the delta. The views of the bay are lovely out here and, at low tide, you will see thousands of shorebirds in the distant mudflats. Near the end of this trail and in Salt Pond AB1 there’s a small island where Forster’s Terns nest in spring and ducks congregate in the winter. The kite flying area is good for Snow and Greater White-fronted Geese in the winter.
Volunteer Opportunity
Ben Pearl and his team are looking for volunteers to help Snowy Plovers flourish. There are opportunities to help with habitat restoration (they love white shells to hide in), breeding surveys and more. There are also opportunities to help with endangered Least Tern colonies. To learn more, please email Ben at bpearl@sfbbo.org
Interactive Map
Directions: From US-101 in Mountain View, exit North Shoreline Blvd. Travel north for about one mile. After passing the park entrance kiosk, turn right into the “Kite Area” parking lot. Latitude/Longitude: 37.429966, -122.077258
Parking: Paved parking lot with ADA spots
Fees: None
Public Transportation: 1mile walk from the VTA stop at Shoreline Blvd and Charleston Road.
Park Hours: 6:00 a.m. until 30 minutes after sundown
Facilities: porta-potty in parking lot
Trip Mileage: 1 mile from parking lot to the intersection with the San Francisco Bay Trail, an additional 0.8 miles to bench
Trail Conditions: Paved roads, dirt roads, and gravel trails; no shade
Bikes: This is a great trip to do by bike.
Dogs: Not allowed
More Information
Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Study Area Trail Map
Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Study Area Website
eBird hotspots: Salt Pond A2E, Crittenden Marsh (Stevens Creek Nature Study Area), Stevens Creek Delta
All About Birds: Caspian Tern, Forster’s Tern, Snowy Plover
BirdGuy with SCVAS Executive Director Matthew Dodder Video 17: The Terns of Summer
SFBBO Plover and Tern Program Director Ben Pearl Speaker Series
More Resources
For more trips like this one, visit Self-guided Field Trips.
Visit the SCVAS Birding Resources page for more information on where to bird, our birding community, birding identification resources, and more.
Read “What to Look for Now” by SCVAS Executive Director Matthew Dodder.
Banner Photo Credit: Elegant Tern by Garrett Lau
Last Updated: 07/29/2022
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