San Mateo County Birding Guide by Sequoia Audubon Society - Printed on October 30, 2026
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This small urban park, built as mitigation for the construction of apartments after Bay Meadows Racetrack closed, has turned into a small birding gem. The freshwater pond at the east end (along Saratoga) has attracted nesting Green Herons and wintering rails, as well as a few passerine rarities, The large meadow to the west regularly has White-throated Swift, Western Bluebird, and a large Canada Goose flock that may hold the unusual goose in winter.
This spot can easily be worked into a Bayside Big Day, or a Birding by Bicycle Big Day. Perhaps even more importantly, all the trails are paved, and fully wheelchair accessible. The park is adjacent to the County Fairgrounds and The Nueva School. Thus Bay Meadows Park is a birding spot for all generations.
The entire paved trail is 3/4 of a mile long, easily divided into the pond (about 1/3 of the distance) and the meadow section. Notable spots for birders to investigate include two small paved inlets - Rail Corner and Green Heron Corner. Rail Corner is a cutout on the North edge of the pond with two benches and a trash can. It has historically provided views of Rails such as Sora, particularly in Winter and/or when drawn out by clapping. Green Heron Corner is a similar cutout on the West edge of the pond (by the meadow), and it has historically provided views of its namesake. Green Herons have also been found amongst the reeds along the South edge of the pond (by 28th Avenue).
While the meadow section is self-explanatory, a series of small seeps along the southern edge can be worth examining during moist seasons.
This park is maintained by the City of San Mateo Parks and Recreation. The landscapers and maintenance crews are often obsessively busy here, so be prepared for small but ongoing changes to bird habitat. The planted garden area immediately to the west of the pond has proven to be a magnet for butterflies in summer (up to six species), and the pond is good for dragonflies and damselflies in the warmer months; Black Spreadwing (Lestes stultus) was seen here once.
Canada Goose, Northern Shoveler, Mallard, American Wigeon, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Pied-billed Grebe, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Band-tailed Pigeon (uncommon fly-overs), White-throated Swift, Anna's Hummingbird, Virginia Rail, Sora, American Coot, Killdeer, Wilson's Snipe (uncommon), Short-billed Gull (uncommon at this location), Ring-billed Gull, Western Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull (uncommon at this location), Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night-heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey (fly-over), Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk (uncommon at this location), Red-tailed Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Merlin, Pacific-slope Flycatcher (in migration), Black Phoebe, Say's Phoebe, Warbling Vireo (in migration), California Scrub-Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Bushtit, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Pygmy Nuthatch (uncommon at this location), Bewick's Wren, Marsh Wren, European Starling, Northern Mockingbird, Western Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, American Pipit, House Sparrow, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Lesser Goldfinch, Pine Siskin, Fox Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, California Towhee, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Townsend's Warbler (uncommon at this location), Wilson's Warbler (in migration)
In this guide, "rarities" are defined as those species given an County Abundance Code of 4, 5, or 6.
Greater White-fronted Goose (2020, 2021, 2022), Snow Goose (2020), Cackling Goose (2021, 2022), Broad-winged Hawk (2010, contiguous neighborhood), White-throated Sparrow (2017), Palm Warbler (2017, 2018, 2019), Great-tailed Grackle (2020)
301 E. 28th Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94403
There are no fees associated with birding at this park. On street parking is also free.
Park officially closes at 10 pm and reopens at sunrise.
None - in fact, all pathways are paved and handicapped accessible. I suppose one might get hit by a stray soccer ball?
Dogs are allowed in this park, and are sometimes off leash in the meadow section. However the pond is fenced, so the dogs are not able to leap into it. The birds know this.
Well-kept restrooms, with flush toilets and sinks. Numerous benches scattered around park. Trash cans are regularly cleaned.
650-522-7400, City of San Mateo Parks and Recreation
eBird hotspot information page
Currently 46 of 48 quadrants are filled! The rarities found early in the birding community's knowledge of this park and its proximity to a number of avid eBirders has resulted in splendid coverage.
The iNaturalist place marker for this park is here.
Author: Jennifer Rycenga, Simon Westley, Uploaded: