Date:  January 28, 2012 and January 29, 2012
Time:  9:00am - 2:00pm both days
Location:  Please call for location.

Date:  Every Saturday in January (1/7, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28)
Time:  9:00am - 12:00 noon (recommend arriving at 8:30am)

See Raptors at HawkWatch

Location: Ramona's Wildlife Research Institute, 18030 Highland Valley Road. 

From the South and West, take Highway 67 to Ramona and turn North (left turn) on Highland Valley Road for 2 miles and look for our sign, Wildlife Research Institute, Inc., on the right.

From the North, take Highway 78 to Ramona Main Street (Hwy 67) and turn right, proceed 3 miles to Highland Valley Road, turn north (right turn) for 2 miles and look for our sign, Wildlife Research Institute, Inc., on the right.

Come join Wildlife Research Institute staff and volunteers for a morning of raptor watching.

Observe both wintering and resident raptors!  You may see raptors such as Golden Eagles, Wintering Ferruginous Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, Prairie Falcons and Red-shouldered Hawks.  Wear sturdy shoes with layered clothing.  Bring binoculars if you have some.  Scopes will be provided for your use.  This is a free event, and no RSVP is required.  For more information go to: www.wildlife-research.org

Date:  January 12, 2012
Time:  9:00am - 10:15am

Learn from a Ranger at the San Dieguito Lagoon

Location:  Meet at the interpretive kiosk at San Dieguito Lagoon, which is South of Via de la Valle at the end of San Andres Drive in Del Mar (behind the Albertson's Shopping Center).

This monthly walk will be led by a Park Ranger along the San Dieguito Lagoon. Topics such as the restoration project, water quality and wildlife of the lagoon will be covered. The winter months bring in a number of migratory birds.  Come discover the beauty of the Lagoon with us!

Hiking the North Lake Hodges trail

Date:  Saturday, January 21, 2012
Time:  9:00am - 10:30 or 9:00am - 1:00pm
Location:  Bernardo Bay Natural Area staging area.  Take I-15 to West Bernardo Dr./Pomerado Road exit.  Turn left onto West Bernardo Drive.  Within a half mile, staging area will be on the right.

Two hikes will be lead depending upon public interest.  Bring your binoculars.  On Hike 1, view birds as you cross the new pedestrian bridge over the Lake Hodges and then explore Felicita Creek.  On Hike 2, cross the pedestrian bridge and climb Bernardo Mountain for a panoramic view of the lake with possible views to the ocean.

This is a San Diego Natural History Museum 'Canyoneer' Nature Walk.  More information here.

Date:  Sunday, January 22, 2012
Time:  1:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: West Vista Loop, Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve East.

Hike the west end of Santa Ysabel East

Join as we explore the west side of Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve East and get a glimpse of California's rancho past.  Santa Ysabel Creek meanders through the Preserve's meadows, dotted with ancient oaks and sycamores, and giant manzanita are found on the chaparral covered mesa with expansive views to the west.  Long-time San Dieguito River Park docent Mike Thacker will be our guide, with tales of the geology and Native American culture of the area.  This is a moderately-strenuous 3.6-mile hike and has an elevation gain of about 600'.  Please bring water and be prepared for changing weather.
Come out to enjoy the San Dieguito River Park and find out "what's new" with the Conservancy!  Bring your friends, too!  Reservations are required.
Please contact hikes@sdrvc.org or (858) 755-6956 for directions and to reserve a space.

Date:  Saturday, February 11, 2012
Time:  To be announced.  Further details will be posted at SDRP.org
Location:  Sikes Adobe Historic Farmstead, 12655 Sunset Dr., Escondido, CA 92025.

SAVE THE DATE!  Spend some time at the Sikes Adobe for Valentine's Day for the Second Annual "Valentine's Day Tea."
Enjoy the Victorian ambiance of the farmhouse while sipping tea with a friend or sweetheart.  Graciously served goodies accompany your cup of tea!  Cost $10.00 per person. 

Lagoon Trail and Boardwalk
by Ranger Bryan Ward

The Lagoon Trail and Boardwalk are currently the westernmost segments of the Coast to Crest Trail, located along the north side of the newly restored San Dieguito Lagoon.  These trails are mostly flat and wide, making them ideal for groups of birders, dog walkers (please leash your dog), or families with young kids learning to ride their bikes.  Parking and an interpretive kiosk can be found at the end of San Andres Dr. south of Via de la Valle. 

When you head west from the kiosk, you pass through the San Dieguito Urban Runoff Treatment Ponds.  The ponds naturally filter out contaminants from water coming from the nearby shopping center and neighborhoods before emptying into the lagoon.  An interpretive sign near the first bench provides more detail.  The trail then parallels the freeway.  Try to spot the kestrel that is usually seen in the trees on the freeway berm.  If you hear splashing in the water to your left, it may be an osprey diving in to catch a fish, or it may be a mullet jumping out of the water.

Enjoy walking at the San Dieguito Lagoon

Look up before going under the freeway and see the mud nests of the cliff swallows stuck in the lip.  On the other side of the freeway, the trail runs alongside the San Dieguito River and is surrounded by native golden bush.  Don't worry about being hit by a golf ball from the driving range - the golf balls you may see have rolled all the way to the trail.  When you reach the Boardwalk, an interpretive panel asks, "What's For Dinner?" and shows what some of the lagoon area birds and mammals eat.  Signs along the Boardwalk explain the importance of water for humans and the environment.  When you reach the end of the Boardwalk at Jimmy Durante Drive, look up at the power lines and count how many cormorants you can see.

If you decide to head east from the interpretive kiosk at the end of San Andres Drive, you will be walking on the newest section of the Lagoon Trail.  The upper trail is the Coast to Crest Trail and is open to hiking, biking, and horseback riding, but the lower trail is only open to hiking.  This lower trail brings you closer to the wetland and is ideal for birding, hence the name Salt Marsh Bird View Trail.  The Lagoon Trail currently ends before you reach Horse Park, but the SDRP Park Rangers are working on habitat restoration and trail construction to extend the trail east through Horse Park to El Camino Real.

Nalani Webster has volunteered with the SDRP for about 2 years.  She first began organizing and cataloguing the new library.  She is currently working with Museum Manger Anne Cooper to catalog objects in the Sikes collection.  She also enjoys helping with the outdoor programs at the San Dieguito Lagoon.

Nalani grew up in San Diego where she worked in libraries.  She spent most of her spare time exploring the mountains and desert.  After moving to Canada, for several years she worked as a research assistant studying wildlife and migratory birds.  Returning to San Diego, she continued her interests by taking natural history and archeology classes and by hiking the diverse habitat types of San Diego County.  As a mother of two boys, she was a Cub Scout leader and school volunteer.

"I became involved with SDRP when my husband and I were starting to see earthmovers in the San Dieguito River area just east of I-5.  We thought developers were at work.  Through the SDRP newsletter, we learned about the lagoon restoration.  We took a SDRP tour of the project.  After learning the mission of the River Park, I wanted to support it and was happy to find a volunteer opportunity where I could use my skills and experience.  I enjoy the great group of people at SDRP who are working hard to fulfill an extraordinary vision."