SDAS again offers its Intermediate Birding Course with Phil Pryde, Instructor.

Phil Pryde (left) leading a birding outing at Lake Hodges.

San Diego Audubon Society (SDAS) will be offering its Intermediate Birding Course, designed for those with some experience in field identification of southwestern birds, and who would like to gain additional skills to enhance the enjoyment of their birding hobby.    

    The class will be conducted on six Saturday mornings, starting on February 12th, and will include at least two guided field trips.  The primary subject matter of the course will be on identifying the more difficult or confusing local species (such as Clark's and Western Grebes, etc.), but many other topics will be covered as well.

    This intermediate birding course is open to all.  Cost of the course is just $85 for Friends (i.e., members) of SDAS, $110 for non-members.   The course will be taught at the Tecolote Nature Center.  If you wish to enroll or have questions, call Phil Pryde, the course instructor at 619-465-9492.

Hike or run with a friend.  Be alert, be aware of your surroundings, and stay safe.

There's only NOW in Nature - Be Aware - Everywhere!

Piedras Pintadas Trail at Lake Hodges
Saturday, February 5th
8:00am - 11:00am

Piedras Pintadas Waterfall, February 2010

Hike through varied terrains and past a waterfall!  Learn about the Native American uses for plants in this area.

Read a trail description here.

South Clevenger Canyon
Sunday, February 27th
9:00am - 11:30am

 Spice Bush and monkey flower are a sampling of the many plant species here -- this lovely trail zigzags to the top of a peak for an elevation gain/loss of about 800 feet.  This is a 3-mile round trip.

Read a trail description here.  

 

Visit the Canyoneers website.

Second Saturday Series
February 12th
9:00am - 10:15am
Do you want someone to talk to about the Restoration Project, the Railroad Bridge Upgrades, the Riverbend Revetment, the Eelgrass Transplanting, the Inlet Dredging, or the plans for extending the trail eastward . . . It's all going on! 
 (Meet at the kiosk to the Lagoon Trail at the end of San Andres off of  2775 Via De La Valle).

Donna demonstrates spinning.

Located at the gateway to the San Pasqual Agricultural Preserve, the market is open to the public and lots of fresh organic produce from Certified Farmers and food and Craft vendors also will be available for purchase!  Visit the historic home while you're here!  Click here for more info.

Featured Farmers Market Vendors:
Roots N' Fruits - Bob Myers is the owner of a small farm in Valley Center where he grows six varieties of persimmons, lemons, and figs!  They should be ripe by this weekend!  

Moonspinners Ranch

- Donna Downing is the owner of a sheep farm in Valley Center.  She is a spinner knitter who brings a small spinning wheel to market and demonstrates how yarn is spun from the fur of her sheep!  She has beautiful handmade items like socks, gloves, hats, and scarves for sale. 

Open to the public
Every Saturday, January and February 2011.
9:00am till noon.

Enjoy the hawks at HawkWatch 2011

Enrichment training was offered to volunteers of the San Dieguito River Park on Saturday, January 22nd.  We support the local efforts of groups like the Wildlife Research Institute, who are making it easy to connect with nature!

HawkWatch website

Image Gallery by Jim Coffee

Bill (aft) and Tom (forward) enjoy a team building experience on Lake Hodges!

Tom Brown and Bill McKinney are our Dynamic Duo Dust Devils!  (Say that fast!)

Tom came to the River Park after the 2007 Witch Creek Fires to see if he could help out and he's been helping ever since!  He even encouraged Bill McKinney to give it a shot and the two of them have been volunteering a good chunk of their time - it's lucky for us that they are both retired - working alongside the ranger staff on projects both big and small as part of the Park's "Dust Devils".  Their efforts have been invaluable and our gratitude is enormous!  If you ever meet them working out on the trails, ceremoniously place a small bit of trail dust on each of their left shoulders!

Trail Restoration Work Projects take place every second Sunday of each month from 8:00am till 11:00 am.  Habitat Rehabilitation Work Projects take place every third Saturday of each month from 8:00am till 11:00am. 

The restoration of our Park's trail system and the creation of wildlife habitat are essential to providing a quality experience for all River Park visitors.  We need YOU!

Trail Restoration
Sunday, February 13th   Sunset Drive Staging Area
8:00am - 11:00am
(on the Mule Hill Trail near Sikes Adobe Historic Farmstead)

Habitat Rehabilitation
Saturday, February 19th  
Ysabel Creek Staging/Parking Area   
8:00am - 11:00am

No reservations are necessary unless you are with a group of 5 or more! Contact Barbara@sdrp.org for details and directions or visit our website Activity Calendar at www.sdrp.org.   Please wear close-toe shoes and bring work gloves if you have them.
 We have gloves, tools, and water! If you are under 16 years of age you must be accompanied by an adult. 

Please note that Habitat Rehabilitation for March 19th and April 16th are already at capacity!  Trail Restoration Project volunteers are still needed. 

 

This is the time of year that the sticky monkeyflower comes out, glowing peach or orange-red and radiating the landscape. When the season's right, they're accented by purple bush lupines. The flowers are beautiful but not too aromatic, although some say they smell like bubblegum! The flower is a common nectar source for hummingbirds and butterflies.  These are found throughout the San Dieguito River Park.

 

There is a native stinging nettle in the Park but if you encounter it along the trail in high numbers it is probably the non-native species. The name usually refers to the strong burning and itching sensation you get when you handle it!  Formic acid, the chemical responsible for causing the irritation and itching, is the same substance found in an ant's bite. The many different species of nettle have been used historically for their medicinal value. They are abundant and out- compete the native plants.