Notes about your surroundings.

Upper Newport Bay Activities--The California Department of Fish and Game and the Orange County Department of Harbors, Beaches and Parks will sponsor two tours on Saturday at Upper Newport Bay. They are:

* Hike Along the Old Salt Dike--A tour of this part of the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve. Hikers should meet at 9 a.m. at Back Bay and Eastbluff drives. The tour is $2.25, but free for California Wildlife Campaign members.

* Owl Prowl--A naturalist-led evening walk through the darkest part of the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve to look for these nocturnal birds. The hike is open to California Wildlife Campaign members only and is limited to 20 persons. For reservations, call (714) 640-6746 Wednesday through Saturday.

The California Wildlife Campaign provides funding for outdoor education and wildlife protection. Membership fees start at $11.

The two agencies are also sponsoring campfires at Newport Dunes every Saturday in August, and kayak tours of the Upper Bay at 10 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday in August. Reservations are required for the kayak tours; contact Newport Dunes at (714) 729-1150.