Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont, California (East Bay area), is a premier birding spot with diverse habitats including tidal marshes, freshwater ponds, mudflats, grasslands, and hills. In July (mid-summer), birding focuses on resident species, summer breeders, and early-arriving fall migrants (especially shorebirds starting to return from northern breeding grounds in June/July). Water levels and weather can influence sightings, but the park is reliable year-round for wetland and open-country birds.

Waterbirds and Marsh Species (Very Common in July)

• Pied-billed Grebe — Often with chicks in ponds and marshes.
• American White Pelican — Frequently seen in groups on the water or soaring; reports of dozens in July.
• Great Egret and Snowy Egret — Wading in shallows and mudflats.
• Great Blue Heron — Tall and stately along edges.
• Common Gallinule (formerly Moorhen) — In cattails and open water.
• Black-crowned Night-Heron — More active at dawn/dusk but often visible.

Raptors and Soaring Birds (Reliable Year-Round, Active in Summer)

• White-tailed Kite — Hovering over grasslands.
• Northern Harrier — Low flights over marshes.
• Red-tailed Hawk — Perched or soaring.
• American Kestrel — Small falcon hunting from wires or posts.

Passerines and Land Birds (Common in Grasslands, Trees, and Shrubs)

• Anna's Hummingbird — Year-round resident, buzzing around flowers.
• Black Phoebe — Perched near water, flycatching.
• California Scrub-Jay — Noisy in oaks and open areas.
• Bushtit — Flocks moving through bushes.
• Marsh Wren — Chattering in cattails (very vocal).
• Bewick's Wren — In brushy areas.
• Common Yellowthroat — Singing from marsh edges.

Swallows and Aerial Insects (Summer Breeders)

• Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, and Cliff Swallow — Abundant, hawking insects over water and fields.

Other Likely Sightings

• Nuttall's Woodpecker — In trees and willows.
• California Gull — Often around.
• Mallard — With ducklings in summer.
• Early shorebirds like Greater Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, or Western Sandpiper (migration starting; numbers build in late summer).

Hiking Difficulty: 1

Hiking Difficulty codes:
1=Easy, very few hills to climb
2=Moderately Easy, some small hills to climb
3=Challenging, flat land ranging to gentle to some steep slopes
4=Difficult, some very steep hills to climb