I love a good day on a boat looking for any creature that wants to come say hi! This is an overview of the Spring Pelagic out of Orange County (Dana Point). We saw lots of Black Storm-petrels, a Brown Booby, so many Vellela vellela (By-the-wind Sailors), and Mola (Ocean Sunfish).

The best of my “balcony birds” are the hummingbirds that nest in the trees right off my patio. They squeak, squirm, test their wings and tiny feet… enjoy some baby hummingbird photos!

A rare Snowy Owl landed on a rooftop in Orange County in December and caused quite a stir. This owl was a welcome visitor. It was last seen in mid-January 2023, so hopefully it has made a safe journey back north to find her other Snowy Owl friends!

This is a great trail for a quick morning or evening hike, or a great loop to do a few times if you are trail running or desperate to get out on your mountain bike! It’s easy to access and provides a great amount of wildlife and wilderness in a fairly busy area.

The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is a coastal estuary that covers around 1,300 acres. It features many scenes and habitats for all kinds of wildlife, including open water, mudflats, salt marsh, coastal dunes, seabird nesting islands, riparian, and freshwater marsh.

If you live in Orange County, you have probably heard of Peters Canyon Regional Park. It’s a part of the OC Parks system with multiple trails and even a lake.

Finding peace and quiet in the middle of Orange County can be difficult. The San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary is a great place to find it. This sanctuary and marsh provide a quiet retreat with lots of options for walking, bird watching, or just relaxing in nature. The Sea & Sage Audubon Society work with the sanctuary to protect birds, wildlife, and their habitat. They provide an amazing escape in the middle of Irvine, California!