Fun time strolling at the San Dieguito River Park in Del Mar today despite the heat and humidity in the San Diego area! Shorebirds are thriving there and the water was crystal blue. Two Great White Egrets were in a tizzy, I saw a flock of Kildeer hurrying above yapping away (who knows why), a European Starling (I think) and a few gulls too! Panoramic view of the lagoon, Del Mar Fairgrounds, Viewpoint Brewery , the #5, then West towards the ocean.
Here’s a short video. Enjoy !
We spent an afternoon walking along the trails and exploring bird watching (and more)
at two North County San Diego areas –
the Buena Vista Audubon in Oceanside & the Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation in Carlsbad.
Not too many bird sightings but…the beautiful wild flowers and stunning nature captivated us as usual!
My favorite find of the day: The dragonfly !
Here’s a short video.
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.
Feel free to read more about the San Elijo Nature Center plus, some info about the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy
My husband and I enjoyed a delightful afternoon enjoying the benefits of my Keepers Club Pass at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, California. The advantages: I can always bring a guest, I can enjoy the free parking (usually $15), and there are new exhibits every once in awhile to take in and experience. (Oh, we also walked about 10,000 steps too)!
Here’s a short video recap of our day! Hope you enjoy it!
Yet another fun afternoon of fun and adventure at the world famous San Diego Zoo – thanks to my Keeper’s Club Pass.
This time I enjoyed the day with my Goddaughter Caroline, and her one of her best friends, Tori!
We spent several hours enjoying the weather, scenery, botanical treasures and of course phenomenal animal exhibits! Plus: an added bonus of walking (and strolling) at least our 10,000 steps (& beyond)!
Then we ventured out to Balboa Park for a lovely lunch at the Prado, complete with a pitcher of sangria before our delicious steak and chicken tacos (and fries) were delivered!
We passed by Food Truck Friday too!
Here are some more photos from our splendid day!
Feel free to click on each photo to see more detail!
First of all, my Mentee this past year in the San Diego State University’s Aztec Mentor Program, Senior Delaney Heil, (class of 2019) is thrilled to be interning this summer at the San Diego Zoo! She was our bus tour guide! Weren’t we the lucky ones! Besides driving that huge bus (oh my…I could NEVER), she was brilliantly humorous as she narrated along the way!
And here are some photos of our very cool animal friends!
Flamingo
Jaguar – Feel free to click on each photo to see more detail!
Polar Bear
Koalas – Feel free to click on each photo to see more detail!
Orangutans – Feel free to click on each photo to see more detail!
Gorillas – Feel free to click on each photo to see more detail!
Giraffes – Feel free to click on each photo to see more detail!
Elephant
Meerkat
Capybara
Lion
Pigmy Hippo
I enjoyed a quick overnight visit to Coronado, California…Check out these photos and see why this island touched my heart!
Feel free to click on each photo by SJF Communications!
The Charming Glorietta Bay Inn
The Famous Coronado Beach and Hotel Del Coronado
A Beautiful Great Blue Heron Enjoying Glorietta Bay
Overlooking the San Diego Skyline from the Coronado Ferry Landing Including Coronado Bridge
Colorful Places, Flowers and Things
Birds Galore! Osprey, Northern Rough-Winged Sparrow, Rock Pigeons, Cormorant, Black Turnstone, California & Western Gulls
The Glorietta Bay Marina Area
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A great morning hike and “Birding with a Camera” at Lake Hodges, Bernardo Bay Staging Area, at the San Dieguito River Park Trail
with
Senior Ranger Dave Hekel and Krisztina Sheeff, KS Nature Photography.
Here’s a short video to recap the morning…
Disclaimer: I am still learning….Birds (and butterflies) were moving QUICKLY and I am quite new at using the Manual settings on my camera! So…my shots aren’t the most focused…
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Exciting time bird watching and more in Del Mar (San Dieguito River Park Trail)!
Yep…a stingray!
Mama Osprey and Chicks
Daddy Osprey watching closely!
Cute bunny rabbit
Egret with a twig
Killdeer (Lifer for me)
Egret and friend…
Eurasian Collared Doves
Song Sparrow & Hummingbird
Snowy Egret
Flowers along the way…
Train passing with song sparrow and hummingbird…
Trail restoration project and views…
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It was a beautiful Sunday and as usual I had my camera with me!
Snapped some photos at Liberty Station as well as on Manzanita Trail at Pacific Highlands Ranch (Carmel Valley), San Diego. Feel free to click on each photo for more detail…
This was my view of downtown San Diego looking south from Liberty Station
Loved this Coral Tree at Liberty Station!
I was captivated watching these great blue herons at Liberty Station!
Saw (and definitely HEARD) several airplanes taking off above Liberty Station
And again witnessed the lantana’s #artinnature and #natureasart (Liberty Station)
Loved the color combination here!
Then ventured out for a walk on the Manzanita Trail at Pacific Highlands Ranch
A beautiful white-crowned sparrow (Manzanita Trail, Carmel Valley, San Diego) !
Saw (and heard) this lovely Song Sparrow (Manzanita Trail, Carmel Valley, San Diego) !
Blue Lupine Perennials (Manzanita Trail Carmel Valley San Diego)!
A Black Phoebe – (Manzanita Trail – Carmel Valley, San Diego)
Finally, an Allen’s Hummingbird (Manzanita Trail – Carmel Valley, San Diego)!
All in all, a wonderful day!
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A quick visit to Lake Poway today yielded a few surprises! Once we arrived it only took a few minutes to see a ‘capture’ of a baby rattlesnake, reported to the ranger by a man fishing along the water’s edge.
Only a few minutes later, someone behind us shouted ‘he’s got a fish’! We looked up to notice just that! Perched high above on a utility pole, an osprey was holding a fish. He soon took off! The photos below show a bit of the dramatic feat!
Here’s a short #haiku (Day #4 of National Poetry Writing Month hashtag: #napowrimo)!
Perched high, above pole
The osprey held on to prey
Then it flew away!
Osprey Perched with Prey – Photo by SJF Communications
Wasn’t that osprey cool???
We walked along the water, taking in sights such as the beautiful blue sky and calm water of the Lake Poway. A few people were fishing, a few boating. Just a gorgeous afternoon.
More #Haiku
Crystal blue water
Perfect way to spend the day
Nature enriches
OH NO!!!!! We suddenly spotted this snake- rattlesnake? (or gopher snake?…it was a few feet long) – just as we walked above (and to the left) of the trail around the lake. That was enough for me! Beware, it’s SPRING and the rattlers are awakening!
Last #Haiku
I ask you…take heed
The rattlesnakes are lurking
Avoid getting bit!
Whew, that rattler was scary! At the end of the trip we noticed this woman who caught some trout. She allowed me to snap this photo!
All in all a wonderful time at Lake Poway!
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A chilly cloudy day with some cool sightings at the San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center, San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy with a #Haiku.
Photos and Haiku by Susan Farese, SJF Communications
Bird Watching is FUN!
Challenging and exciting
(But pay attention)!
All of a sudden
One might grace with their presence
And poof…they fly past!
Camera in hand
Mastering all the settings
Stay still – just don’t move!
Nothing like photos
Displaying what you’ve captured
I LOVE BIRD WATCHING!
Here are some photos – feel free to click on each one!
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I spent a delightful afternoon wandering about by bird watching and enjoying nature’s foliage, views and more at the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy – a Southern California nonprofit land trust which is part of the nearly 1000-acre San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, bordered by the northern San Diego areas of Solana Beach, Encinitas and Rancho Santa Fe.
I began my solo stroll at the ‘green’ San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center (2710 Manchester Avenue
Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA 92007). The volunteers and rangers were very helpful with information. I gave a donation and visited the interactive exhibits. The Nature Center sells limited items such as maps, books, snacks/drinks etc.
I embarked on my journey by following the beautiful trail. Here are some photos from the day!
Feel free to hover over/click on each photo to see the name and enlarge it.
I visited during low tide and was able to see a variety of shore birds at the mud flats. The trail is quite easy to navigate (it also includes ADA accessible boardwalk). There are natural-looking overlooks and benches for those who’d like a rest, or just sit and observe!
Feel free to hover over/click on each photo to see the name and enlarge it.
Feel free to hover over/click on each photo to see the name and enlarge it.
I also enjoyed admiring the foliage and surroundings. Here’s a peek at what I saw that day…Spring has sprung indeed!
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My husband and I recently thoroughly enjoyed an afternoon at Santee Lakes. We walked around several of the lakes for fitness and I did some incredible bird watching!
Browse the Bird List!
Check out photos of the Wildlife!
Find out more about the Park!,
Perhaps go Fishing!,
Stay overnight in the Cabins, or in their Campground!
Or: Plan your Events!
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