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Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch (Winter): Birding While Enjoying History

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Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch (Fall/Winter):
Birding While Enjoying History

By Jennifer Oliver

Visit a historic ranch setting while birding in the Santa Teresa foothills in south San Jose. The Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch offers visitors the ability to go back in time and re-visit life on the Ranch during the late 1800s/ early 1900s. And there is always a wide variety of raptors and songbirds in this easy-to-access portion of the Santa Teresa County Park.

Trip Covers: November - February

Key Birds: Wild Turkey, White-tailed Kite, Red-shouldered Hawk, Acorn Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Black Phoebe, Oak Titmouse, Bushtit, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Northern Mockingbird, Western Bluebird, Dark-eyed Junco, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow

How to Bird

Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch is located in south San Jose along the Santa Teresa foothills.  It is part of Santa Teresa County Park.  Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch has a rich history, which makes it fun to explore and learn about while birding.  Originally it was part of Rancho Santa Teresa and part of an almost 10,000 acre piece of land granted to Jose Joaquin Bernal by the Mexican government in 1834.  Most of this land has since become San Jose neighborhoods, but the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch was owned and actively used as a family-operated ranch until 1980.  In 1986 Santa Clara County bought the property, and then in 2002, it was dedicated and presented to the public after much restoration work.  Just recently in 2021, an additional expansion of the walking trails to San Ignacio Ave. was completed as well.  

Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch over the years was used as a water company (since a natural spring is on the property), cinnabar mine, fertilizer quarry, cattle ranch, and farm.  You can learn about these different aspects as you walk-through the self-guided tours placards along the pathways or visit the restored main house or barn (when open).  

View of main house on Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch (owl-box included). Photo by Jennifer Oliver.

Historic barn and farming equipment.  Photo by Jennifer Oliver.

Along with the rich history, this is a beautiful area especially in winter - with the green foothills and numerous bird inhabitants.  

We begin the tour at the main house and barn.  After you have enjoyed visiting these buildings, listen and look in the large trees around these buildings.  The large oak tree and telephone poles in front of the main house are a favorite spot for the Acorn Woodpeckers.  (Also the palm tree directly across Manila Dr.)  There is also an Owl box on the large oak tree – so keep a lookout / listen for a possible Barn Owl if you’re visiting closer to sunrise or sunset.

Acorn Woodpecker on nearby palm tree.  Photo by Jennifer Oliver.

Continue along the trail that runs alongside Manila Dr. (Do not take the trail up the hill, see the interactive map, site 2.)  Look for California Towhees, White-crowned Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Black Phoebes, Northern Mockingbirds, Mourning Doves, and Western Bluebirds, especially along the bushes and on fence posts in this area.

As you continue along this trail, you can also read about the history of the ranch through the many placards.  

Historical placards along the trail.  Photo by Jennifer Oliver.

As you walk under the trees, listen for the call of the Oak Titmice.  They are usually plentiful in this area.  They may be hard to spot, but they are easy to hear – sometimes described as a “peter peter peter” call.  If you do see them, look for their “signature” tufted crest.  Like the name implies, the oak trees do seem to be their favorite spots.

Oak Titmouse.  Photo by Jennifer Oliver.

As you continue on, the path will split at the picnic table area.  Stay left and continue along the trail next to Manila Dr.  (see interactive map, site 3)  

After awhile the path will open up to an open field with a large oak tree, propped up by metal braces.  This is the historically significant “Bear Tree.” The entire site is named the “Bernal Adobe Site and Bear Tree Lot” with a site marker present on the lot.  The “Bear Tree” is believed to be one of the great oaks to which bears would be tethered prior to Bear-Bull fights, which took place as part of the rodeos held during the Spanish-Mexican Rancho era of Alta California.

“Bear Tree” (oak tree).  Photo by Jennifer Oliver.

This tree, along with the others nearby, and the telephone poles across the trail – all serve as good birding spots for more Acorn Woodpeckers and an occasional Northern Flicker.  Also look / listen in this area for Oak Titmice and Song Sparrows. 

Song Sparrow.  Usually these sparrows are easy to view since they like to perch at or near the tops of shrubs and bushes.  Photo by Jennifer Oliver.

As you continue east on trail, you will pass by an old milk house.  The bushes in this area are also a great place to spot the many White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows. 

White-crowned Sparrow.  Look for the bold black and white stripes on the head.  The juveniles will have rusty-brown stripes instead.  Photo by Jennifer Oliver.

Continue along the trail until you get to the end, at San Ignacio Ave. (see interactive map, site 5)  This is a good time to overlook the open field (and adjacent trees) and nearby foothills for Red-tailed Hawks, White-tailed Kites, and Turkey Vultures.  The White-tailed Kites are especially exciting to watch due to their unique “kiting” (hovering over a specific spot and flapping their wings, while looking down below for prey) hunting techniques.

White-tailed kite flying by overhead (note white body and distinct wing coloration on underside).  Photo by Jennifer Oliver.

At San Ignacio Ave. turn around and head back towards the main ranch house.  When you get back to the picnic area, this time turn left and go up the hill and to the right.  (See interactive map, site 6)  The Santa Teresa Spring will be on your left as you climb the hill.  You may choose to briefly stop here to see if any birds are at the watering hole.  Then continue on and you will walk alongside an old canal, with the path overlooking the ranch area down below.  There are quite a few bushes that line this entire pathway.  Do you see any small birds in the bushes - such as Bushtits or Ruby-crowned Kinglets?

Trail along an old canal.  Photo by Jennifer Oliver.

Continue along the trail until you intersect with the Joice Trail.  (see interactive map, site 7)  From here turn left and go just a little ways up the Joice trail.  The large trees on the right are excellent trees to find Oak Titmice and Ruby-crowned Kinglets.  

Ruby-Crowned Kinglet.  The males show a small red patch on the head.  When excited or agitated this red “crown” becomes clearly visible.  Photo by Jennifer Oliver.

You may choose to continue up the path into the rest of Santa Teresa County Park from here, but for this field trip we suggest stopping at the Norred Trail intersection and just taking in the views. (See interactive map, site 8)

View from Joice Trail / Norred Trail intersection.  Photo by Jennifer Oliver

From here, carefully walk back down the fairly steep Joice Trail.  This will return you to the main ranch house and entrance.

Ready for More? 

Also check out the nearby self-guided field trips for Santa Teresa County Park – Pueblo Day Use Area and Santa Teresa County Park – Stile Ranch.

Interactive Map

Route Summary

  • Park at main parking lot or on Manila Dr.

  • Enter at main Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch Historic Area.

  • Visit Historic Area as desired

  • Start field trip along trail inside Historic Ranch area, headed east along Manila Dr.

  • Follow trail for 0.4 miles, continuing past the picnic tables, “Bear Tree”, and all the way to San Ignacio Ave.

  • At this point, turnaround and continue back towards the Historic Ranch area (0.2 miles).

  • Just past the picnic tables, turn left and head up the hill, past the Spring and continue on the trail that parallels the canal for 0.2 miles.

  • At the junction with the Joice Trail, turn left and go up the hill for 0.1 miles.

  • Hike back down the hill to the Historic Area entrance / restrooms. (0.15 miles)

Directions: From US-101, take the Cottle Rd. exit and turn right (south) until Santa Teresa Blvd. At Santa Teresa Blvd., turn left (east) and then at the next stop light turn right (south) onto Camino Verde Dr. Proceed 0.8 mile, until the street ends directly across from the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch main parking lot Latitude/Longitude: 37.226142, -121.798935

Parking: Parking spaces are limited in the main parking lot (1 handicap spot, 4 additional spots total).  All other parking is on-street parking on Manila Dr.  All parking is free. 

Fees: None

Public Transportation:  Nearest bus stop is 0.8 miles away near intersection or Camino Verde Dr. and Santa Teresa Blvd.  Nearest VTA stop is 1.3 miles away on Cottle Rd. at Hwy. 85.

Park and/or Trail Hours: 8 am to Sunset

Facilities: Public restrooms.  

Trip Mileage:  Total trip is 1.1 miles.  

Trail Conditions: All trails covered here are dirt.  Only trails near the Ranch area have gravel.  The Joice Trail also is quite steep and will be muddy and slippery with any wet weather conditions.  All trails along Manila Dr. are flat.  

Accessibility: The main parking lot is wheel-chair accessible.  

Bikes: Allowed but not recommended.

Dogs: Dogs are not allowed within the Historic Ranch Area.  Outside of this (on Joice trail or east of  the picnic tables near the Spring), they are allowed if on a 6 ft. (or less) leash.

More Information

More Resources

Banner Photo Credit:  Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch by Jennifer Oliver

Last Updated:  12/8/2022

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