The best entrance and parking is at the south end of the Preserve on Rio Road. There is no pavement so one has to pull off the road onto the narrow dirt edge. On busy days these few spaces can fill up. Parking is available across the street but farther east of the Mission. Parking is not allowed in the Carmel Mission lot and there is signage warning about that.

After going around the gate, there is a grassy area to the right with a bench that is a good meeting place for groups. The birding can start right there within all the Willow habitat. However, the noise from the street can be distracting so sometimes it’s best to continue up the main Serra Trail.

Birders have to share the trail with dog walkers who are courteous and respectful for the most part.

Look and listen for flocks of chickadees and Bushtits in the willows. There might be other species travelling with them. California and Spotted Towhees sometimes run across the trail in front of you. Keep your eyes up for birds that are passing over the park on their way to the ocean or the nearby Carmel River. Flocks of Band-tailed Pigeons, crows, Western Gulls, and even Canada Geese have been observed.

Be sure to make a stop at the Redwood grove on your right. Pause to take in the purified air and reduced temperature. This is a spot to listen for Brown Creeper and American Robin. Varied Thrush have occurred here in irruption years. At the far edge of the grove is a creek where skulking species such as Swainson’s and Hermit Thrush in season come to drink.

The weedy area opposite the Redwood grove once contained a stand of Eucalyptus trees which were removed to allow native species to grow in their place. There currently doesn’t seem to be a plan for revegetation. Many of the species found on the checklist were seen in these Eucalyptus over the years.

There is one lone remaining Eucalyptus tree that is on private property. At this point cross the two bridges over the creek to start the Willow Trail and head south. The west side of this trail is thick with Coast Live Oak. Look and listen for oak-loving species.

This counter clockwise loop is a good introduction to the Nature Preserve.