Notes about your surroundings.

They’re Back--The grunion are expected to run Monday through Thursday. The small silvery fish come ashore--sometimes by the thousands--to bury their fertilized eggs in moist sand immediately after the highest tide. The eggs hatch in about 10 days, timed to coincide with the next extreme high tide.

Grunion season is closed in April and May, but it is permissible to catch them by hand during the rest of the season. No aids in catching the fish can be used, and a valid state fishing license is required for grunion hunters 16 and older.

The best places to find grunion are dark, uncrowded sandy beaches. It’s best not to bother the first few fish ashore--they act as scouts, and the school will find another beach if they detect danger.

Approximate times for the grunion runs this week will be 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Monday; 11:10 p.m. to 1:10 a.m. Tuesday; 11:50 p.m. to 1:50 a.m. Wednesday and 12:35 to 2:35 a.m. Thursday. Upcoming runs this season will take place July 23 to 26 and Aug. 8 to 11 and 22 to 25

Still Open--Space is still available in summer science classes offered by the Museum of Natural History and Science in Newport Beach, 2627 Vista del Oro. Subjects include space exploration, fossils and Indian basketry. Classes cover a variety of age ranges.

The museum offers displays of local marine fossils, insects and Indian artifacts. Admission is $1 to $2. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Call for information on class times and prices: (714) 640-7120.

False Alarm--Dog owners in Lancaster, Pa., armed themselves with knives and guns before walking their pets after an item in a Sunday News nature notes column alerted readers about the local sighting of a rare South American dog-eating eagle, according to the latest edition of Columbia Journalism Review.

The report was complete with comments from ornithologists and concerned residents, and an account of an attack on a Lancaster terrier. Only one problem: It was an April Fools’ Day joke. The newspaper somewhat sheepishly set the record straight April 8.