It’s always fun to birdwatch (and get some steps walking along) at Santee Lakes! You never know what species you’ll see.
Today we saw Mallards, Snowy Egrets, a Green Heron, a Western Bluebird, Black Phoebes, Wood Ducks and a Lesser Scaup to name several!
Check out the video above!
We were pleased to see the new General Store and Snack area.
Here is the website for visiting with lots of info: https://www.santeelakes.com/
Photos and Video by SJF Communications.
Five lovely women attended our 2 hour SJF Communications Haiku workshop, ‘Capturing Your Creativity With Haiku’ through San Diego Writer’s, Ink via Zoom on April 5th 2020. Once I figured out the system (video, sound, muting, unmuting, locking, etc.), it was a blast!
It was my first time teaching with Zoom and now I am hooked! In fact, I am planning another virtual Haiku workshop via San Diego Writer’s, Ink tentatively on June 7th from 10-12 noon. Stay tuned for details TBA.
We began with a review of my professional history and experience with Haiku and Poetry. After that, we did an interactive interesting and most of all fun ‘ice-breaker’ – getting to know each other a bit more.
Next, after introductions and a review of my work with poetry, I taught my Power Point presentation about writing Haiku and shared several (16) of my nature (and other) photography photos as prompts to encourage Haiku writing. Everyone practiced writing Haiku and finally we had the opportunity to share our work. It was a delightful time with such a lovely group of creative empowered women!
Here’s a glimpse of our enlightened attendees written Haiku along with photo prompts they chose that day!
A simple creature
Delving into his sweetness
Bringing joy to all
– Lori
~
Hummingbird hornets
This Spring when hope hides from us
Kids drink from sippies
– Millie
A morning outlook
Wind ruffling my feathers
What to do today
-Lori
~
Eager and ready
Able with wings to take flight
Planted feet instead
-Mary Jean
~
White feathers ruffle
Lake reflections wrinkles
The visible wind
-Bonnie
New discovery
A promise of refreshment
Flies! They found this too
-Mary Jean
Water falls steady
From granite to constant lake
Upstaged by frailty
-Mary Jean
Lupine violet
Rises above dusty green
Poking the still air
-Millie
Palm trees like bear hugs
Only my hairless arms wrap
Tomorrow your gaze clears
-Millie
Whirling eternal surf
Salty water splashes ashore
No virus in sea
-Janice
Stop full moon overhead
Secrets hide the dusky light
Car horn, now mundane
-Janice
Crunchy leaves crackle
Sun comfort through bare branches
Seasons change, do I?
-Janice
Puffy clouds hover
Gentle wind rustles leaves on trees
City sleeps, no danger.
-Janice
To be deep in love
Pandemic keeps us apart
Makes me love you more
-Lori
~
Peeling the orange
Ripping the layers of flesh
Ahh! A squirt of scent
-Mary Jean
~
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.
There’s plenty of parking as well.
Here’s a short video from the day!
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…
LIKE SJF Communications on FACEBOOK
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!
LIKE SJF Communications on FACEBOOK
FOLLOW SJF Communications on TWITTER
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!
LIKE SJF Communications on FACEBOOK
FOLLOW SJF Communications on TWITTER