Self-guided Birding Locations
A small, uncrowded place in East San Jose, jam-packed with waterfowl in the winter and offering great photo opportunities of ducks, herons, and shorebirds. The trails are made from gravel and offer easy, level walking, and there is plenty of sun during the colder months. The mix of creekside and pond habitat can result in a large number of species observed, especially in the winter and when water levels are favorable.
Penitencia Creek Trail in east San José is a beautiful, shaded creek side trail with easy level walking where wildlife and birds abound. While it can be crowded after 10 a.m. on weekends, early mornings offer solitude and silence and increase the chance for wildlife and bird encounters. Deer (and their fawns) are especially common, and bobcats, snakes, and other creatures are sometimes seen. The creek hosts numerous Steelhead Trout, and in the past may have supported Coho Salmon.
