Filoli Description & Information

Filoli

Spring Summer Fall Winter

Filoli, April 2009 (Sonny Mencher)

Description

Area Habitats
Grassland, Mixed Woodland, Cultivated Garden, Orchard

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Filoli is a historical site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and encompasses 654 acres, including a 36,000 square- foot historic country house. An admission fee allows access to the 16-acre formal European Style Garden and the 20th Century Georgian-inspired House. A trail network beyond the public areas is accessible by reservation through various docent-led hikes; bird walks offered by the Sequoia Audubon Society occur in the spring and fall. A variety of other historic, horticultural and nature education programs are available and described on Filoli's website.

A bird census that samples various habitats on the estate occurs monthly. In addition, bluebird nest boxes are monitored throughout the spring nesting season. Over 90 bird species are known to occur regularly at Filoli, with another 20 species seen once or rarely. Western Bluebirds frequently breed in the orchard, as well as in the fields by the north (public) entrance where they are visible from Cañada Road. The front fields bordering on Cañada Road are the most reliable spots in the county to see Wild Turkey; early morning is the best time to see them before the estate opens to the public.

Sequoia Audubon hosts two bird walks at Filoli in late April and late October. In addition, Filoli sponsors several spring bird walks. All bird walks are led by docents and require advance reservations. In the 2010s, these spring trips have revealed a small population of nesting Cassin's Vireos, an uncommon breeder in the county. Except for these organized bird walks, birding is limited to the PUBLIC ACCESS AREAS ONLY! This means that one may bird around the perimeter of the Visitors' Parking Lot and the Overflow Lot. These areas border mixed woodland, riparian habitat and the edge of the orchard, including a swale. Birding is also allowed in the formal Gardens but is limited due to the number of visitors who will be enjoying the Gardens as well. One may bird in the main driveway from the Visitors' Parking Lot around to the front of the House with good activity, especially among the Atlas Blue Cedars and the huge Coast Live Oaks in this area. Red-breasted Sapsuckers, in particular, frequent the Atlas Blue Cedars during the fall and winter months, and Anna's Hummingbirds, Townsend's Warblers and other species take advantage of the sap and the insects attracted to the fresh wells. Be sure to stay on the established paths and roads and only within the Public Access Areas! A map of the Public Access Areas can be downloaded from Filoli's website.

Volunteer

Filoli has an active and extensive volunteer program. Many of the docents, such as those in the Nature Education Program, complete in-depth training before they qualify to lead walks. Further information about volunteer programs is available at www.filoli.org or by phone to the Friends of Filoli at 650.364.8300 x508.

History

If you experience a sense of déjà vu when you first see Filoli, it is not surprising. The House and grounds were featured in the opening credits of the television series Dynasty. The name "Filoli" is an acronym for Fight-Love-Live, the credo of its first owner, William Bowers Bourn, who believed one should "Fight for a just cause; Love your fellow man; Live a good life." Filoli is one of the premier tourist attractions for garden aficionados as well as history buffs in Northern California. As a result, Filoli is an ideal place to visit with a non-birding spouse or friend. The birder can enjoy a rich sampling of local birds, while anyone who loves flowers and estates will be delighted.

Look For These Birds

Year-round species include:
Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, California Quail, Wild Turkey, Band-tailed Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Anna's Hummingbird, Acorn Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Black Phoebe, Steller's Jay, Western Scrub Jay, Common Raven, American Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Bushtit, Brown Creeper, Wrentit, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, Western Bluebird, European Starling, Hutton's Vireo, California Towhee, Spotted Towhee, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Purple Finch, House Finch, and Lesser Goldfinch.

Spring and summer species include:
White-throated Swift, Allen's Hummingbird, Olive-sided Flycatcher (uncommon), Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, House Wren, Cassin's Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Tanager, Lazuli Bunting, Bullock's Oriole.

Late fall and winter species include:
Killdeer, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, Say's Phoebe, Pacific Wren, Hermit Thrush, Varied Thrush, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Golden-crowned Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Western Meadowlark.

Rarities Seen Here

In this guide, "rarities" are defined as those species given an County Abundance Code of 4, 5, or 6.
Golden Eagle, Lewis's Woodpecker (2000, 2018, 2022, 2023), Red-naped Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (2014), White-throated Sparrow

Directions

Filoli is located about 30 miles south of San Francisco in Woodside, California, just south of the junction of Highways 92 and 280. The address is 86 Cañada Road, Woodside, California 94062.

From North of Filoli

Drive south on Highway 280

Take the Edgewood Road exit

Turn right on Edgewood Road until it ends at Cañada Road

Turn right on Cañada Road, go 1.25 miles

Turn left into Filoli entrance, proceed to guardhouse

From South of Filoli

Drive north on Highway 280

Take the Edgewood Road exit

Turn left on Edgewood Road until it ends at Cañada Road

Turn right on Cañada Road, go 1.25 miles

Turn left into Filoli entrance, proceed to guardhouse

Interactive Map

Red Markers: Parking Area or Trail Head
Hover mouse pointer over marker, or click marker, for pin identification.
Use + or - buttons to change map zoom. Click & Drag to pan.

Fees

2016 admission fees vary by season, but can be as much as $20 for adults, $17 for seniors, and $10 for students and youngsters; children 4 years and younger are free. Group rates are available. Higher admission fees apply on special event days, for education programs, special tours and Filoli-sponsored bird walks.

Hours

Filoli is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10:00a.m. to 3:30p.m. and on Sunday from 11:00a.m. to 3:30p.m. The estate is CLOSED on Mondays, major holidays and from late October until early-February.

Hazards

The usual culprits are active: poison oak, ticks and the occasional rattlesnake. Mountain lion tracks have been seen infrequently, and the adjacent watershed property is known mountain lion habitat. Stay within the PUBLIC ACCESS AREAS ONLY unless you are participating in a docent-led walk.

Facilities

The Visitor and Education Center includes restrooms and a café that has both inside and patio seating. Food may not be taken onto the estate grounds; picnicking is not allowed. The Filoli Garden shop is open during normal hours of operation and is located under the clock tower. Free parking is available on site.

Accessibility

Accessibility information is currently not available for this location.

Contact

Filoli's phone number is 650-364-8300

Avian Research Status

FIloli Estate is a hotspot in eBird with data in 43 of 48 time quadrants and 127 species represented. Back in 2010, when this entry was first published, the eBird designation for this area was confusing, seemingly including all of the watershed! When entering, or reviewing, historical data in eBird, be sure that you are using the correct hotspot for Filoli.

The iNaturalist place marker for Filoli can be found here.

The approximately 90 bird nest boxes are monitored throughout the spring breeding season and results are reported to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The monthly bird surveys are consolidated into an annual spreadsheet that is available from the Education Department at Filoli as well as from the Field Trip Coordinator at Sequoia Audubon Society.

Filoli has been a regular Sequoia Audubon Field Trip location, with 45 field trips from 1980 forward. These field trips are always by reservation, and led by folks who volunteer regularly at the gardens. When you hear about an upcoming Filoli trip, it is best to make your reservations as soon as possible!