A warm March hike through Dilley Reserve began with a search for tiny bird’s nest fungi. We found them, along with a surprising fungal party, busy butterflies, Pacific Chorus Frog tadpoles, and Splendid Mariposa Lilies blooming along the trails.

Quail Hill Loop is an easy two-mile trail through open grassland in Irvine. We came looking for Blue Grosbeaks and also found Western Kingbirds, House Finches, and Red-tailed Hawks watching the trail from above.

An evening hike around the reservoir at Peters Canyon Regional Park brought steep little hills, quiet overlooks, California Quail, young Western Bluebirds, and noisy parrots overhead.

Red Rock Canyon in Whiting Ranch feels surprisingly far removed from suburban Orange County. This easy local hike follows Borrego Canyon Trail through grasses and oak woodland before reaching a colorful pocket of red sandstone cliffs.