Notes about your surroundings

Wetlands tours--Guided public tours of the Bolsa Chica wetlands will be held Saturday morning.

The tours, sponsored by Amigos de Bolsa Chica, will depart from the wetlands’ ecological reserve every 20 minutes beginning at 9 a.m. The last tour will depart at 10:30 a.m.

Bolsa Chica is one of the best bird-watching sites in the county, attracting a variety of shorebirds and land birds. Birds likely to be seen on the tours include egrets, loons, herons, grebes and other waterfowl.

Those who would like to take a tour are asked to meet at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve’s building on Pacific Coast Highway, about half a mile south of Warner Avenue. It is across from Bolsa Chica State Beach.

Sea field trip--The Sea & Sage chapter of the National Audubon Society will hold a pelagic field trip Saturday.

The trip begins at 6:30 a.m. It is the second in a series of such trips sponsored by the chapter.

The group will go out on the 40-foot Sea Scout from Newport Harbor and take a triangular route out to the tip of Catalina Island.

It is the best time of year to see albatross, chapter officials said, and the group will also see many other species of sea birds.

The trip is limited to 25 people and advance reservations are required. The cost for the trip is $25.

Participants should bring binoculars (but not scopes for this type of bird-watching), food and warm clothing.

For more information, call the chapter office at (714) 261-7963.