Some of the best areas for birding in the park are the Velodrome Picnic Area (at the north end of the park), Cottonwood Lake, and Coyote Creek. The Velodrome Picnic Area is a good spot to look for vagrant warblers in the fall. Both American Redstart and Chestnut-sided Warbler were reported in the fall of 2022. The best area to look for rare warblers here is a small trail leading into a gully on the northwest side of the picnic area. Cottonwood Lake can have various shorebirds (if the water level is low enough), geese, and ducks during fall/winter. The south end of the lake is also a good spot to look for Yellow Warbler and Black-throated Gray Warbler in the fall. Finally, Coyote Creek can have Hutton’s Vireo, various neotropical songbirds, and Black-chinned Hummingbirds (rare, spring and summer only).

Vagrant warblers (fall), Black-chinned Hummingbird (rare, spring/summer), Hutton’s Vireo, Greater White-fronted Goose, Cackling Goose, Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler

Hellyer County Park and the Coyote Creek Parkway is a 178-acre urban park is located in the heart of Santa Clara County's regional park system. Coyote Creek, which meanders through the center of the park, is the focus of the park's natural environment. Thick undergrowth and tall trees characterize the well-defined creek channel which is home to many different species of wildlife. Visitors to the park can escape from the nearby hustle of city life and enjoy the quiet solitude of Hellyer County Park and the Coyote Creek Parkway.

Hellyer County Park is managed by the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department. The park has a lake, a good stretch of riparian along Coyote Creek, and several lawns, as well as many parking lots. There is a $6 entrance fee. To access this park from San Jose, take US-101 south towards Morgan Hill, exit on Hellyer Avenue, and turn right. You can either continue straight, to the north entrance (and velodrome) area or continue left onto Hellyer Avenue and then turn left into the south entrance (Cottonwood Lake). To access this park from Morgan Hill, take US-101 north towards San Jose, exit on Hellyer Avenue, and turn left. Continuing straight will bring you to the north entrance, and turning left onto Hellyer Avenue and then turning left again onto the entrance road will bring you to the south entrance.

Coyote Creek Trail, Cottonwood Lake Loop Trail

The AllTrails website has a description and map of a hike at Hellyer County Park.