Ulistac Natural Area (Fall): Fall Migration “Must-Do”
by Chuq Von Rospach and Eve Meier
Ulistac Natural Area, in the city of Santa Clara, is an urban gem for birders and worth a visit year round. During fall it can get very active with migrant birds. Diverse habitats in a relatively small space offer a variety of species. The park is easily accessible by car or light rail and the trails are an easy walk that don’t require significant exertion.
Trip Covers: September - October
Key Birds: Olive-sided Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Yellow Warbler and Wilson’s Warbler
How to Bird
Ulistac Natural Area is a small (40 acre) open space in Santa Clara and is the last area of undeveloped land along the Guadalupe River. Despite its small size, it offers a wide range of habitats to explore, including grassland areas and coastal scrub; riparian woodlands of cottonwood, willow and box elders; and mature valley oak trees and sycamores. There’s also a native plant garden that attracts birds and butterflies.
Trail through Ulistac Natural Area. Photo: Chuq Von Rospach
Historically, this area was used as a camping, hunting and fishing area by the Ohlone Indians, and there are some preserved archeological sites in protected areas. In the Ohlone language, “tac” means “place” and "Ulis" means basket; thus, Ulistac means "basket place" or place where baskets are woven. The Spanish used it for cattle and sheep grazing in the 1800s, and later, it was farmed for strawberries and truck crops. It was converted in 1961 into the Golf Glen golf course, which operated until 1988. It then went unused until 2001 when the City of Santa Clara and Ulistac supporters started work on converting it into an open space and natural area. Work to remove invasive plants and encourage native plantings continues today thanks to the ongoing work of volunteers.
Ulistac Natural Area entrance. Photo: Chuq Von Rospach
Ulistac’s compacted dirt trails are accessed from either Lick Mill Blvd or the Guadalupe River Trail (west side). There is a north and south entrance off Lick Mill Blvd. The primary trail is a 0.75 mile loop that covers the interior of the park, with additional trails that meander through native gardens. On the northeastern and southeastern end of the park are wheelchair accessible ramps that lead up to the Guadalupe River Trail. I like to start from the south entrance, and make a wide loop covering the interior of the park and the trail along the levee.
Fall songbird migration is a special time of year. There is an uptick in species as wintering birds are arriving, summer birds are fueling up before they migrate south, and other birds are just passing through.
This is a great location and time of year to see 5 flycatcher species. Black Phoebe are here year-round but, during the fall, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Willow Flycatcher, and Olive-sided Flycatcher can all be found here. I recommend watching SCVAS’s online class: Flycatchers: Parts 1,2,3. March 2021 to learn where to expect each of these species and how to tell them apart. These are often tricky id’s for beginner birders and can take some practice.
Warblers are fun too! Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler and Orange-crowned Warbler can all be found here in the fall when the numbers of all these species peak. In addition to these more common species, a number of rare warblers have been found here too in the fall, including Nashville, Black-throated Gray and even Blackpoll. SCVAS has an online class for warblers too. Check it out here: Warblers: Parts 1,2,3. September 2021.
Juvenile Cooper’s Hawk. Photo: Chuq Von Rospach
Summer residents that remain are Black-headed Grosbeaks which can often be found high in the eucalyptus trees along with Bullock’s and Hooded Orioles. If you wish to review Bullock’s versus Hooded Oriole identification, see the August issue of All Around Town. Oriole identification is discussed towards the bottom of the article. Winter arrivals include White-crowned, Golden-crowned and Fox Sparrows, and Red-breasted Sapsuckers.
Bullock’s Oriole. Photo: Chuq Von Rospach
Year-round highlight species include five woodpeckers: Nuttall’s, Hairy, Downy, and Acorn Woodpecker as well as Northern Flicker. Ulistac has also been home to a California Thrasher pair the last few years, as well as nesting Red-shouldered Hawk, Western Bluebird and Cooper’s Hawk.
Nutall’s Woodpecker. Photo: Chuq Von Rospach
Along the Guadalupe River, keep an eye out for Green Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Snowy and Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Common Yellowthroat, Pied-billed Grebe and Marsh Wren. In September, this is to look for the previously mentioned Willow Flycatcher.
Ramp up to the Regional Levee Trail for views of the Guadalupe River. Photo: Chuq Von Rospach
Beyond birds, it is also inhabited by other wildlife including rabbits and foxes, and is also a habitat for Monarch Butterflies.
Ready for more?
Come back in the winter for Fox Sparrow, White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrow, Merlin, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush and Cedar Waxwing. During the summer, you can expect to find Hooded and Bullock’s Oriole; Cliff, Barn and Tree Swallows; as well as Vaux’s and White-throated Swift. Follow our other self-guided trip, Ulistac Natural Area (Spring).
Volunteers Needed
Ulistac is looking for lead volunteers to 'lead' work parties the 1st & 3rd weeks of the month. Email or call Dennis Dowling, board member and volunteer, at dennisdowling42@gmail.com or 408 416-8907 or visit Ulistac.org
Directions: From CA-237 exit Great America Pkwy south, drive 0.8 miles, then turn left on Tasman Dr. In 1 mile turn right on Lick Mill Blvd and travel about 0.5 miles to the park, which will be on your left. Street parking. There are two park entrances on Lick Mill Blvd, one at the north end of the park and one at the south end of the park. Latitude/Longitude: 37.403418, -121.953984
Parking: On street parking along Lick Mill Blvd. When Levi stadium is in use, posted signs will note days when parking is not allowed; park along Lick Mill south of Hope Street.
Fees: None
Public Transportation: Short walk from the VTA Light Rail on Tasman Dr
Park Hours: Sunrise until one-half hour after sunset
Facilities: None. ADA compliant bathroom, benches and picnic tables across the street in Lick Mill Park.
Trip Mileage: A circuit of the area from the south entrance along the trail through the woods to the northern entrance and back along Lick Mill to your car is an easy, flat trail and under 2 miles. The interior trail loop is only 0.8 miles. Crisscrossing trails through the garden and walking along the Guadalupe River Trail will add mileage.
Trail Conditions/Accessibility: Trails are flat dirt or gravel and fairly well maintained. They can be slippery or impassible after rain. Ramps to the Levee Regional Trail that runs alongside Guadalupe River are steep enough to make wheelchair use difficult without assistance.
The south entrance gives you access to the grasslands, butterfly and bird garden, and the southern ramp to the Guadalupe River. The north entrance is closest to the northern wetlands area, the oaks and woodlands, and the northern ramp to the River Trail.
Although there are no benches in this park, there are several logs to sit on if you need to rest. Stay on the trails - areas within Ulistac have Poison Oak.
Bikes: Allowed but not recommended for this trip
Dogs: allowed on 6-ft leash
More Information
Ulistac Natural Area Map
Ulistac Natural Area Website
eBird Hotspot: Ulistac Natural Area
BirdGuy with SCVAS Executive Director Matthew Dodder Video 18: Fall Warblers 1
Bird surveys map often referenced in South Bay Birds: Ulistac Birding Station Map
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: Ulistac Natural Area by Chuq Von Rospach
Last Updated: 05/23/2022
Enjoyed this Trip?
Support the work of Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society and become a member. To contact the trip writer with comments, questions or location updates, please email fieldtrips@scvas.org. You can also post in the comment section below. (If you’d like to post anonymously, type your comment, select “Post Comment”, then simply provide a name, like “Guest”, and select “Comment as Guest”.)