----The latest Information as of January 27, 2012----

Field Trips Judith Sparhawk eMail Judith

Field Trip Corner

February Field Trip to Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Our February field trip will be to Bolsa Chica, a trip we have done in the past, and has been very popular. The primary target is birds, and this one is timed for a fairly high tide, when the birds will be closer in, and easier to photograph. Of course we never know what birds we will see, but there should be a variety of terns, gulls, ducks and shore birds, as well as some land birds. There are many wintering birds on the coast, so let's hope some of them come out to play with us!

The trip will be on Saturday, February 25th. The highest tide that day will be a little after 10:00 am. Since the parking lot fills up on weekends, we will meet at 8:30 am at the parking area just off Pacific Coast Highway, south of Warner Avenue. We will be shooting as the tide comes in, and should have several hours of good photography. Parking is somewhat limited there, and it is a popular spot, so carpooling is appropriate.

We will be walking around the estuary area, so packing light, equipment-wise, is sensible. Your most useful lenses for birds will be a good zoom lens, pulling them in as close as possible. Tripods are allowed, but shooting birds in flight, or while hiking around, may be easier hand-held.

Bolsa Chica is about 70 miles from Redlands, and will take about 1.5 hours. Carpoolers should meet at Coco's in Redlands at 6:45 am, to leave by 7:00 am.

Directions: From Redlands, head out on I-10 west, taking the I-215 toward Riverside. Merge onto the 91 Freeway, drive about 32 miles; merge onto the 55 Freeway, on the left side of the 91, exit # 34); exit onto the 22 freeway toward Long Beach; exit at Valley View Street/I-405 south (exit #5), go .3 miles. Then turn left onto Valley View Street, go .5 miles; Valley View becomes Bolsa Chica Road, go 1.8 miles. Bolsa Chica Road becomes Bolsa Chica Street, go 2.0 miles; turn right onto Warner Avenue, and drive south to Pacific Coast Highway. Turn left on PCH and go about 1 mile to the parking lot for the reserve, on the left side of PCH.

For questions: Judith Sparhawk, 909 793-1876

Field Trip Chairman


eMail Judith