 Wikimedia Commons.jpg)
) to insert bird names in your own language. The birdnames will automatically be translated for other users!
Upload images
Allowed image types are jpeg,png,gif
Max file size is 20MB
Description
Heron's Head Park is an oasis in the dense city, reclaimed from landfill in a light industrial area in the underserved southeast of San Francisco. The Park's Ecology Center is a model building, with a living roof and classes for youth and community members. Across the street is a native plant nursery. The terrain is flat, treeless, with breathtaking views of San Francisco Bay and the East Bay shore. The rich mosaic of habitats includes a small tidal estuary, a rocky inlet, marshy land, grassy land, and includes native plants.
The pickleweed marsh and mud flats provides habitat for a variety of herons and shorebirds, including Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Whimbrel, Marbled Godwit, Long-billed Curlew, Least Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Black-bellied Plover and Semipalmated Plover. On the open water, a variety of ducks, grebes, loons and cormorants can be seen, while gulls, pelicans and terns can be seen roosting on the many docks and piers or foraging over the water.
While water and shore birds are most noticeable here, a small garden in front of the ecology center hosts Anna's Hummingbirds and a variety of sparrows and grassland birds can be found in the weedy fields, including Savannah Sparrow and Western Meadowlark. In the wetter margins, Red-winged Blackbird and Common Yellowthroat can be seen.
Despite it's urban/industrial surroundings, over 200 species of birds have been seen here, according to eBird. As a small island of habitat in a mostly urban area, this spot has attracted a number of uncommon birds, rarities and vagrants over the years, including a Rock Sandpiper that spent multiple winters here, Harlequin Duck, Yellow-billed Loon, Baird's Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Red-necked Grebe Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Red Phalarope, Harris's Sparrow, Nelson's Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Palm Warbler, Sage Thrasher, Yellow-billed Magpie and Tropical Kingbird.
Details
Access
Heron’s Head Park is situated in the Bayview neighborhood. You can find it at the intersection of Cargo Way and Jennings Street. Driving is easiest. There is usually parking in the small parking lot. Click on the P in the map for directions.
Terrain and Habitat
Wetland , Sea , Park , City/villageConditions
FlatCircular trail
YesIs a telescope useful?
Can be usefulGood birding season
All year roundBest time to visit
Winter , Spring migration , Autumn migrationRoute
Paved road , Unpaved road , Wide pathDifficulty walking trail
EasyAccessible by
Foot , Bicycle , WheelchairBirdwatching hide / platform
YesExtra info
As always in San Francisco, don't leave bags or valuables in your car, and be sure that there are no backpacks, purses etc visible through the windows, since car break-ins are certainly possible here.
Links
- iNaturalist.org
- eBird hotspot for Heron's Head Park
- eBird bar chart, showing bird species by month at Heron's Head Park