Mills Creek Open Space Preserve

Spring Summer Fall Winter

Mills Creek Open Space Preserve, May 2009 (Jennifer Rycenga)

Description

Area Habitats
Chaparral, Grassland, Mixed Woodland

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This Open Space Preserve property is not yet open to the public. However, there are twice-annual hikes here, usually in May and October. The area is located in the hills between Half Moon Bay and Skyline Boulevard, with access from the south side of SR 92 near Half Moon Bay. This area, also known as Miramontes Ridge, is the site of the historic Gilcrist Ranch, and provides unparalleled views of Half Moon Bay, Princeton Harbor, and the southern San Mateo coast to Pescadero.

The hikes organized by the MROSD volunteers start at a riparian area near some old farm buildings and fences. This area would certainly yield expected and rare migrants with sustained attention. As the trail ascends, the predominant grassland habitat produces excellent conditions for Lazuli Bunting and Grasshopper Sparrow. Small areas of mixed woodlands host Chestnut-backed Chickadee and roosting areas for hawks and owls, while small rocky outcroppings raise hopes that somewhere up here may be hiding a genuine county rarity: Rufous-crowned Sparrow. While access is currently restricted, birders are urged to monitor the MROSD website and grab the opportunity to hike here, looking especially for the species mentioned here.

Look For These Birds

Mallard, California Quail, Turkey Vulture, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, California Gull, Caspian Tern, Band-tailed Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Black Phoebe, Hutton's Vireo, Steller's Jay, Western Scrub-Jay, Common Raven, Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Pygmy Nuthatch, House Wren, Bewick's Wren, Western Bluebird, Swainson's Thrush, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, California Thrasher, Wrentit, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Spotted Towhee, California Towhee, Grasshopper Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Purple Finch, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, American 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.

Be the first to find one!

Directions

Because access to Mills Creek Open Space Preserve is not currently permitted except with group tours, directions are not given here.

Interactive Map

Fees

MROSD tours are free, though you must make reservations for this preserve.

Hours

Mills Creek Open Space Preserve can only be accessed on one of the organized tours with MROSD, as indicated above, usually in late spring and mid-fall. Legitimate scientific researchers can inquire about obtaining permits.

Hazards

Rattlesnakes, ticks, and mountain lions are all present, though likely not in great profusion. There is some poison oak. Old farm buildings are dangerous to enter, and wood remnants could have rusted nails protruding: exercise great caution around such structures and ruins.

Facilities

There are no facilities in this undeveloped park. The proximity to Half Moon Bay enables one to use the local emporia for provisions prior to a hike in this preserve.

Accessibility

  Accessibility information is currently not available for this location.

Contact

Call the Mid-Peninsula Open Space District at 650-691-1200 for more information.

Links

• The official Mid-Peninsula Open Space District page for Mills Creek. This, and the quarterly calendar, are the spaces to watch for announcements of hikes into Mills Creek.
• This pdf format map illustrating the location of a GPS marker in the park provides a good schematic map for Mills Creek OSP.
• One way to stay abreast of developments at Mills Creek OSP is to volunteer with MROSD; check out their webpages for volunteers
• The MROSD is considering purchase of a property contiguous to Mills Creek OSP, bringing the hope of a genuine hiking trail connecting Half Moon Bay and Skyline Boulevard closer to reality; Coastsider article.

Avian Research Status

Because of the restricted nature of this Preserve, it is not yet a hotspot in eBird. However, for exactly the same reason, it is crucial to enter data from the rare occasions when birders gain access to this property; please contribute your sightings to eBird and label them as Mills Creek Open Space Preserve, so that it will be easier to merge them when the happy day arrives!

Additional Photos

Remnants of farm fence, Mills Creek Open Space Preserve, May 2009 (Jennifer Rycenga)

Looking west to Half Moon Bay and the Pacific Ocean from Mills Creek Open Space Preserve, May 2009 (Jennifer Rycenga)

Monument to the Gilcrest Family, Mills Creek Open Space Preserve, May 2009 (Jennifer Rycenga)

Pacific Gopher Snake, Mills Creek Open Space Preserve, May 2009 (Jennifer Rycenga)

Common Raven over the treetops at Mills Creek Open Space Preserve, May 2009 (Jennifer Rycenga)