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 am always amazed at the striking rock formations and cliffs at Torrey Pines State Reserve and Beach. They are fascinating, colorful, majestic, steep and very old!
I spent some time walking along the beach recently and was in awe of the rock formations…caves…geometric shapes and more…
Here’s a short video to show the magic in the rocks!
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!
It’s that time again in San Diego…The marine layer is proudly beaming lately and we kid about it as ‘May Gray’.
I visited Sunset Cliffs in Point Loma on May 21st and was delighted with such natural beauty there…
Take a gander at these photos.
Not a sunny day, but I still witnessed gorgeous rock formations, caves, wildflowers and waves…
YES: #artinnature, #natureasart!
Susan J. Farese
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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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Westwind Brass Announces Summer Brass Workshop
At SDSU School of Music & Dance
June 25-29, 2018
Free Concert June 30th at 1:00 pm
The Westwind Brass, San Diego’s premier professional brass ensemble, and an Ensemble-in-Residence at the San Diego State University (SDSU) School of Music and Dance, announces their exciting interactive 2018 Summer Brass Workshop at SDSU, June 25- 29, 2018, from 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.. This fun-filled week culminates in a free afternoon concert with the participant ensembles, on Saturday, June 30 at 1:00 p.m. at the School of Music and Dance.
The musicians of The Westwind Brass Ensemble are Elizabeth Howard, John Wilds and Karl Soukup (trumpets), Barry Toombs (horn), Eric Starr (trombone) and Bryan Smith (tuba).
“Each year, this week provides a cross-generational environment where we all have a chance to explore and develop skills in communication, collaboration, and creativity; and to engender a larger sense of community.”- Westwind Brass Executive Director: Barry Toombs (French Horn)
“The participants, young and old, receive an opportunity to work with some of the finest brass musicians in southern California. It is fun, informative, and relative to the music in their daily lives. What’s more, they have a chance to play in what will be, I believe, the greatest brass ensemble of their lives!”– Westwind Brass Director Educational and Outreach Programs: Bryan Smith
Activities will include: Master Classes, Sectional Coaching, Ensemble Playing, Individual and Group Performances. Private lessons will be made available during the mornings for an additional fee.
In addition to the more traditional brass instrument training and ensemble experiences, this workshop will feature mini-seminars on such topics as sustainable practice routines; learning and performing solos; making use of technology in your music; and an interactive introduction to jazz and improvisation.
Westwind Brass Summer Workshop Schedule
Price Information for Summer Workshop: Students/Military: $150; Adults: $175.
Register Online at www.westwindbrass.org or call 619-665-9125 (Credit Card or PayPal accepted).
Registration Form and more info
http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07efa2w3ugfcc291b8&llr=c6bkk5mab
Location:
San Diego State University School of Music and Dance,
5500 Campanile Dr., San Diego, CA 92182
http://music.sdsu.edu/index.php/about/map
For More Information: Phone: 619-665-9125 or email: info@westwindbrass.org.
Or visit: Westwind Brass
For Media Inquiries: SJF Communications; 408-398-5940 sjfcommunications@gmail.com.
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Ken Herman, San Diego Story: Westwind Brass Delivers Smart Jazz Survey on the Berkeley”
The Westwind Brass exists to broaden and enrich the musical legacy of local, national and international audiences through performance and educational services featuring brass instruments and music. Westwind Brass musicians perform in various configurations of featuring the unique timbre of brass instruments and performing the brass repertoire at a high artistic level. Westwind Brass is a 501(c) (3) Public Benefit Corporation. For more information, visit Guidestar.org.
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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