Susan of SJF Communications enjoying the flower fields!
Susan’s friend Ninon at the Flower Fields!
It was such a fun morning (into the afternoon) enjoying a wagon ride and strolling through the vividly colorful Tecolote Ranunculus flowers (and more) at the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California.
Here’s a short SJF Communications video to share the delightfully colorful fields that seemed to go on and on!
. Prices range from $9-$18. YES, we did pay the extra $5 for the fun (and a bit bumpy) wagon ride and YES we also treated ourselves to a strawberry shake!
A special unexpected treat was smiling while observing the adorable caged dove exhibit!
A great children’s area will keep the kids happy with fun activities, gold panning plus workshops for school groups!
There were sweet pea & orchid areas, fresh lemonade, ice cream, the ‘Strawberry Shack’ with yummy drinks and sweets and overall a great way to spend time!
Our family spent a few wonderful hours hiking at Tahquitz Canyon ~ part of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Reservation in Palm Springs.
Take a look at our short video below with photos by Susan J Farese, SJF Communications and music by Ah Nee Mah: ‘Native Visions: A Native American Music Journey’.
We saw a variety of beautiful wildflowers, rock formations and boulders, crossed over two streams, and ultimately reached the gorgeous 60 foot waterfall at the end of the trail. The land was spectacular. The views magnificent. It was a bit steep, but well worth the climbing!
What a spectacular day hiking at Lake Hodges in Escondido, CA! Beautiful scenery, wildflowers blooming, birds enjoying the plentiful rain that we’ve had lately, magnificent rainbows (did we mention the larger than life rattlesnake)? Take a look at ‘art in nature’ and ‘nature as art’!
Music: If We Knew All the Laws of Nature’ by Robert Farmer.
Photos/Video by SJF Communications ‘Creative Ideas | Dynamic Results’ sjfcommunications.com
My husband and I enjoyed a walk along the lower trail near Annie’s Canyon the other day. We began at the Northwestern end of Rios Avenue in Solana Beach and heading East towards Highway #5 (Manchester Exit). Note: We didn’t hike into Annie’s Canyon his time…but hopefully next time!.
Here are some photos captured by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications. Take a look at the variety of shorebirds pictured solo or in a flock. An extra treat was spotting the cutest Anna’s Hummingbird building a nest as we exited the trail!
Feel free to click on each photo for a larger view.
We had such a spectacular, fun and educational morning (along with a large group of attendees) at the first 2019 ‘Hawk Watch’ Falconry event including a Q & A with Biologists from the Wildlife Research Institute (WRI).
These free Hawk Watches (donations accepted as well) will continue on Saturdays throughout January and February at 10 a.m. (suggested arrival time 9:30 a.m.). The Hawk Watch lasts about 1.5-2 hours. The location is at the private Begent Ranch, 18528 Highland Valley Rd. Ramona, CA 92065.
More suggestions: Bring binoculars, cameras, wear layered clothing, and sturdy shoes. (It could get muddy and wet there)! There are chairs set up outside but you can also bring your own if you prefer. There is free parking.
There were several varieties of hawks to see up close and personal, including the Red-Tailed Hawk(s), as well as a Peregrine Falcon, Ferruginous Hawk, White Gyrfalcon and an American Kestrel – plus several exhibitor displays inside the building and demonstrations outside, such as a net trapping and learning how the handlers work with the hawks. Each week will feature different species.
According to the WRI flyer at the event- Here is the upcoming Owl schedule:
January 12th: Barn Owl, Great Horned Owl, Western Screech
February 2nd: Barn Owl, Great Horned Owl, Western Screech
February 16th: Barn Owl, Western Screech
February 23rd: Barn Owl, Western Screech
Click below for a short video from our day!
Here are a few photos representing the hawks we observed!
Peregrine Falcon – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Red-Tailed Hawk – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
These free Hawk Watches (donations accepted as well) will continue on Saturdays throughout January and February at 10 a.m. (suggested arrival time 9:30 a.m.) The location is at the beautiful picturesque private Begent Ranch, 18528 Highland Valley Rd. Ramona, CA 92065. Coffee and donuts were on hand (donations accepted) and afterwards hot dogs and refreshments were available for purchase.
There were also exhibitors (including reptiles on display) plus hawk related and other goods for sale.
A great day to observe and marvel at the hawks!
White Gyrfalcon – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF CommunicationsAmerican Kestrel – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
An Anna’s Hummingbird building and guarding her Nest – This was exciting to see! Thanks to the fellow bird watcher who told us about it!A pair of American Wigeons exploring in the lagoon
The beauty of the trail at the San Elijo Lagoon
A lone pine cone in the torrey pine tree
Gadwalls at the lagoon
Sweet female MallardThings happen in threes, even Mallards!More of the lovely trail at the San Elijo Lagoon
Mallard pair staring!
Visitors at the San Elijo Lagoon – including Curlew, Godwit, Willet shorebirds
I spent a late morning into the early afternoon at Lake Miramar (also known as the Miramar Reservoir) in the Scripps Ranch area of San Diego, walking along the 5 mile paved Loop Trail.
The address is: 10710 Scripps Lake Dr., San Diego, CA 92131
There were beautiful views throughout!
Feel free to click on each photo for a larger view!
I took a detour and hiked a bit below the paved trail on the dirt path.
Little bird watching surprises: a Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Western Grebe, Gadwall, Snow Goose, Cassin’s Kingbird and of course, plenty of Mallards and Coots!
No swimming, but there’s fishing and bike rentals!
Besides people walking and jogging, there were many on bikes and one on roller skates!
If you go: bring WATER to drink. Yes, there are plenty of portable toilets along the trail.
This was a wonderful sold-out event at a beautiful theatre (one of my personal favorite places to see films) with nearly 30 projects (some of my colleagues also presented) shown on the big screen that evening!
So…sit back, relax and enjoy this clip of some of my photography!
We walked 1.5 miles of the north side of the trail and back again.
It was a beautiful, enjoyable day in nature!
We saw the glistening blue water of the lagoon, a variety of shorebirds and other varieties of birds, beautiful aromatic eucalyptus trees, wildflowers complete with bees, a woodpile of artistic tree rings, several inviting thatched roof benches for resting and viewing the lagoon, a lizard on a rock, and much more. We were inspired with so much beauty surrounding us!
We chatted, laughed and decided to plan on excursions such as this in the future.
After our walk we stopped in the Nature Center, which is open:
Monday through Friday from 9 am – 12:30 pm
and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am – 3 pm
Feel free to enjoy these photos! Click on each one to see a larger version!
Had a great afternoon bird watching with my husband at the mile long, double loop, ADA accessible San Elijo Nature Center Loop Trail (Located off of Interstate #5 a bit West on Manchester Blvd. in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California). There are several benches along the route to sit back, reflect and ‘take it all in’.
Despite the dredging and restoration lately, we saw some incredible shorebirds : The Great White Egret, Great Blue Heron, and Black-Crowned Night Heron as well as Mallards.
There’s a bit of restoration and dredging (thus, disruption of the bird habitats) happening these days, complete with large cranes, so I didn’t spot as many species as usual.
Santee Lakes in San Diego County is a great place for bird and waterfowl watching! So many varieties can be spotted throughout the year! Here is a PDF Santee Lakes Birdlist as of 2016.
I’ve made a short video from my brief visit the other day. A Great White Egret was the highlight! Also spotted Wood Ducks, Great Blue Heron, Mallards, Canada Geese, Pied-Billed Grebe, and of course, Coots!
I strolled along the La Jolla coastline the other day (mostly on Coast Blvd.) I discovered really cool breathtaking views, caves, cliffs, the La Jolla Cove, the Children’s Pool, the back of the La Valencia Hotel, beach goers, sea lions and seals, cormorants, and even some beautiful flowers!
Here’s a short video which captured some of the sights!
I had some free time and took advantage of a wonderful mini-escape to nature!
Here’s a short video to recap my time strolling throughout the mile long, double loop, ADA accessible San Elijo Nature Center Loop Trail (Located off of Interstate #5 a bit West on Manchester Blvd. in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California). There are several benches along the route to sit back, reflect and ‘take it all in’.
There’s a bit of restoration and dredging (thus, disruption of the bird habitats) happening these days, complete with large cranes, so I didn’t spot as many species as usual.
