SoCal trip December 2021

[Aidan B]

9 minutes ago, IKLland said:

Great stuff! Isn’t the photography at bolsa chica incredible??!!

It is! Although the light had pretty much faded before I got there. I was shooting at around 10000 ISO. 

[IKLland]

9 hours ago, Aidan B said:

It is! Although the light had pretty much faded before I got there. I was shooting at around 10000 ISO. 

If you can, I’d recommend a morning trip there. Especially if it’s low tide, it’s INCREDIBLE! 

[IKLland]

@Aidan B, I saw your insane list for the newport back bay. I’m curious what areas you birded? 

[Aidan B]

37 minutes ago, IKLland said:

@Aidan B, I saw your insane list for the newport back bay. I’m curious what areas you birded? 

I birded the entire main trail, from the science center to the end of the trail at Eastbluff drive. I was looking hard for the Tricolored Heron, scoping almost the entire bay. Most of the Passerines were heard only as I wasn't bothering to try and track them down. 

[IKLland]

2 hours ago, Aidan B said:

I birded the entire main trail, from the science center to the end of the trail at Eastbluff drive. I was looking hard for the Tricolored Heron, scoping almost the entire bay. Most of the Passerines were heard only as I wasn't bothering to try and track them down. 

Thanks. Is that the trail that starts on the left, the bike trail? Or the one to the right? 

[Aidan B]

1 hour ago, IKLland said:

Thanks. Is that the trail that starts on the left, the bike trail? Or the one to the right? 

 It was the bike path

Here's my track, I also did the other part of the trail afterwards, but stopped my track before doing it. The second photo shows that part. 

Edited December 24, 2021 by Aidan B

[IKLland]

8 hours ago, Aidan B said:

 It was the bike path

Here's my track, I also did the other part of the trail afterwards, but stopped my track before doing it. The second photo shows that part. 

So, when you leave the nature center, you walk to the left to the bike trail? Or do you go to the right?

[IKLland]

@Aidan B, did you start at the nature preserve? 

or the ecological reserve?

[lonestranger]

11 minutes ago, IKLland said:

@Aidan B, did you start at the nature preserve? 
 

or the ecological reserve?

Just from comparing the two maps you posted to @Aidan B's map, I'd guess the second of the two starting points.

[IKLland]

Just now, lonestranger said:

Just from comparing the two maps you posted to @Aidan B's map, I'd guess the second of the two starting points.

Aha, thanks. I didn’t notice that! 
@Aidan B, if that’s correct, is this where you parked?

 

[Aidan B]

30 minutes ago, IKLland said:

Aha, thanks. I didn’t notice that! 
@Aidan B, if that’s correct, is this where you parked?

 

That's where I started, I got dropped off than picked up once I finished the trail. 

[IKLland]

9 minutes ago, Aidan B said:

That's where I started, I got dropped off than picked up once I finished the trail. 

Do you recommend me parking at the science center? Because my family is gonna want to walk with me. 
heres the science center. There is a lot there. I’ll probably park there. 

 

Edited December 24, 2021 by IKLland

[IKLland]

@Aidan B what I’m confused about is why there are three hotspots for the same area? 
 

[Aidan B]

58 minutes ago, IKLland said:

 

I can't quite recall if there was much good parking near the Science Center, I do know there was some parking here though. 

[Aidan B]

1 minute ago, IKLland said:

@Aidan B what I’m confused about is why there are three hotspots for the same area? 
 

I was confused by that too, I just selected the one that I thought fit best. 

[IKLland]

Just now, Aidan B said:

I was confused by that too, I just selected the one that I thought fit best. 

I think the nature preserve is the preserve at the north end of the bay. The Newport back bay is the same thing as upper Newport bay. They’re literally the same place, just people call it different things. 

[IKLland]

3 minutes ago, Aidan B said:

I can't quite recall if there was much good parking near the Science Center, I do know there was some parking here though. 

It looks like there is parking. If there isn’t, I’ll park on the street somewhere. 

[IKLland]

@Aidan B are you gonna try for the great crested, or whatever it is? Good luck if you do!

[IKLland]

I’m gonna try for the solitary today, it’s close to my house. 

[Aidan B]

Just now, IKLland said:

@Aidan B are you gonna try for the great crested, or whatever it is? Good luck if you do!

For sure! Hopefully I will leave soon, but I'm currently waiting for my family to wake up. (They were at Disneyland all day yesterday) 

[IKLland]

Just now, Aidan B said:

For sure! Hopefully I will leave soon, but I'm currently waiting for my family to wake up. (They were at Disneyland all day yesterday) 

Let me know if it’s easy.

[IKLland]

Just now, Aidan B said:

For sure! Hopefully I will leave soon, but I'm currently waiting for my family to wake up. (They were at Disneyland all day yesterday) 

Are you going to do bolsa chica one more time? 

[Aidan B]

Just now, IKLland said:

Are you going to do bolsa chica one more time? 

I will be, I'm here till sunday. 

[IKLland]

Just now, Aidan B said:

I will be, I'm here till sunday. 

Awesome! Hopefully you get some good stuff! If you try for the MEDU, just letting you know it’s a real hard bird to see, it’s a small gross park, and there’s a ton of mallards so it’s hard to pick it out.

[Aidan B]

1 minute ago, IKLland said:

Awesome! Hopefully you get some good stuff! If you try for the MEDU, just letting you know it’s a real hard bird to see, it’s a small gross park, and there’s a ton of mallards so it’s hard to pick it out.

That's what I've heard.