Picchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve

Introduction

On July 26th, 2025, I went on a hike at Picchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve at Cupertino, California. This open space preserve consists of a winery, a pond (dry at the season), and a few hiking trails towards Stevens Creek Reservoir. During the hike, I encountered various wildlife and birds and took many photographs of them, including Western Fence Lizard, Wild Turkey, Dark-Eyed Junco, Black-Tailed Deer, American Goldfinch, Chestnut-Backed Chickadee, Spotted Towhee, Merriam’s Chipmunk, Golden-Ringed Dragonfly, and Black Phoebe. I also encountered a covey of California Quail, but I was not able to capture them in the photographs because they were hidden so deep in the bushes. It should be noted that on the Bear Meadow Trail, there are lots of agile Merriam’s Chipmunks, which are rare to see in the other areas of the Bay Area based on my experience.

Camera System Setup

• Camera: Sony A1 II
• Lens: Tamron 28-300mm F/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD

Picchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve