Twin Pines Park

Spring Summer Fall Winter

Buckeye Picnic Area, Twin Pines Park, Belmont, May 2012 (Jennifer Rycenga)

Description

Area Habitats
Riparian, Mixed Woodland, Suburban/Urban

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An excellent spot to combine birding with a family outing, Twin Pines Park is adjacent to the Belmont Civic Center, and easily accessible from Ralston Avenue. What makes this park worthy of inclusion in this site guide, is the presence of Belmont Creek. This water feature creates a rich, accessible riparian that, with sustained attention, could well produce some migrant flocks and rarities.

That being said, Twin Pines Park defines the term "multi-use" park. There are artist studios, playgrounds, picnic areas, government buildings, and more - all nestled between a busy street (Ralston Avenue) and suburban houses. Traffic noise can be nearly constant; luckily it abates somewhat along Belmont Creek. However, the popularity of the park with families can produce a lot of noise too. Birders likely don't need this advice, but this is a spot where an early morning arrival is likely to net you better birds and less human interference than later in the day.

The mixed woods here include a lot of eucalyptus, as well as some oaks, creating good conditions for warblers and migrants. A good strategy here is to stay along the stream and the southwestern sections of the park. The pedestrian entrance from the southern border along O'Neill Street includes a bridge over Belmont Creek, and gives you immediate access to the best potential locations.

Look For These Birds

Canada Goose, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Turkey Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Herring Gull, Caspian Tern (unusual at this location), Mourning Dove, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Anna's Hummingbird, Acorn Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Pacific-sloped Flycatcher, Black Phoebe, Steller's Jay, California Scrub-Jay, American Crown, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, Bushtit, Tree Swallow (uncommon), Violet-green Swallow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Pygmy Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Pacific Wren (uncommon here), Bewick's Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet (fall-spring), European Starling, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Varied Thrush, California Thrasher (uncommon here), Cedar Waxwing (fall-winter), Wilson's Warbler (spring-summer), Yellow-rumped Warbler (fall-spring), Townsend's Warbler (fall-winter), California Towhee, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Bullock's Oriole (uncommon here), Brown-headed Cowbird, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, House Sparrow

Rarities Seen Here

In this guide, "rarities" are defined as those species given an County Abundance Code of 4, 5, or 6.

White-throated Sparrow (2003), Rose-breasted Grosbeak (2017, in continguous neighborhood to the south)

Directions

Twin Pines Park is located on the south side of Ralston Avenue, just west of El Camino Real (SR 82) and just east of Notre Dame de Namur University. You can enter the park from Ralston Avenue or from Sixth Avenue. Do not neglect the pedestrian entrance from O'Neill Street; as mentioned above this gives access to some of the best birding opportunities in the park, including the bridge over the creek.

Interactive Map

Fees

Use of Twin Pines Park is free for casual use. There are areas and services available for rental for events; use this website to make reservations.

Hours

None posted, but daylight hours are fine. Remember that this park is in a neighborhood if you are engaging in early morning birding.

Hazards

As with all wooded county locations, poison oak is a possibility, and there could be ticks here. Given the nearby playground, if you spot anything truly dangerous, like a Mountain Lion or a rattlesnake, report it - but you are far more likely to get a rare migrant warbler here than anything that dramatic.

Facilities

The park maintains good bathrooms, picnic tables, and playground areas. Places for food, drink and provisions abound along El Camino Real. In fact, the park is walking distance from the Safeway Supermarket along El Camino Real, making it ideal for picnics.

Accessibility

  Accessibility information is currently not available for this location.

Contact

The official phone number is 650-595-7441; the official address of the park is One Twin Pines Lane, Belmont, CA 94002

Links

• The official City of Belmont site for Twin Pines Park gives a full list of the available facilities, as well as a detailed map.
• An enlarged map can be viewed here, which names all the buildings and shows multiple parking areas.
• View the opinions of this park from a diverse range of people on Yelp.
• The Belmont Park Boosters sponsor summer music concerts in Twin Pines Park; visit them at their Facebook page for more information.
  

Avian Research Status

Twin Pines Park is an eBird hotspot, but it is lacking in data. Only fourteen of forty-eight time quadrants are represented. Take a noontime walk in Belmont, and contribute those sightings to eBird!

Sequoia Audubon Society has led one field trip to this darling park, in 2003.

Additional Photos

Steller's Jay bathing in Belmont Creek, Twin Pines Park, May 2012 (Jennifer Rycenga)

Red-tailed Hawk, September, 2017 (George Chrisman)

Mourning Dove, Twin Pines Park, Belmont, May 2012 (Jennifer Rycenga)

Trailside scenery, Twin Pines Park, Belmont, May 2012 (Jennifer Rycenga)