Notes about your surroundings.

Bird Rarities--The number of rare bird sightings have been infrequent lately, something the Sea & Sage chapter of the National Audubon Society attributes to the “post-Christmas Bird Count lull.” However, several recent sightings are worthy of note.

One of the biggest thrills for birders this winter season was the two sandhill cranes spotted in an unincorporated area of the county north of San Juan Capistrano. They were first seen in December and remained through early February, frolicking with the Canada geese in the reservoir along Ortega Highway west of Ronald W. Caspers Regional Park. Sandhill cranes--which can grow to 4 feet tall and have a 6- to 7-foot wingspan--are similar to whooping cranes, except they are gray instead of white.

Other rarities spotted wintering in the area include a Northern rough-winged swallow, several yellow warblers, a black-throated gray warbler and a tropical kingbird, all in the Santa Ana River area. Also seen near the river were about 15 white-faced ibises and four common goldeneyes.

A tundra swan--a rare visitor to the county, especially in the wintertime--was spotted in mid-January in Laguna Canyon. A large gull tentatively identified as a glaucous gull was seen along the shoreline in Huntington Beach on Feb. 4.

About four or five Xantus’ murrelets were seen in and around Newport Beach throughout January. Farther south, a brant was discovered off Reef Point on Feb. 10.

Rounding out the list of recent rarities are a varied thrush, spotted at Craig Regional Park in Fullerton in early January, and a solitary vireo and a possible orchard oriole, seen in Eisenhower Park in Orange.

Nature Programs--The Oak Canyon Nature Center is holding a morning program about reptiles Saturday. It begins at 10 a.m. and is free. Also, a nature program for children ages 6 to 10 will be held at the center March 25, which is during spring vacation for many children. For more information about either program, call (714) 998-8380. The center is at 6700 Walnut Canyon Road, Anaheim.