Notes about your surroundings

Bay Tours--The Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve is home to hundreds of species of native birds and indigenous plant life. The reserve offers a variety of entertaining ways to view this natural setting, including hiking and mountain biking.

For those who want a view from the water, kayak trips are available Sundays beginning at 10 a.m. Canoe tours meet on Saturdays beginning at 8:30 a.m. Rental costs vary.

Access to the bay is at Backbay and Eastbluff drives, off Jamboree Road. Information and canoe and kayak reservations, (714) 640-6746.

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Bird Walk--A guided birding tour of the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve will be offered Saturday at 8 a.m.

Fall is a great time to spot large populations of wintering shorebirds and waterfowl, as well as a variety of land birds. Birders should expect to see terns, grebes, gulls, egrets and herons. Birds also sighted in the area, but tougher to spot, include belted kingfishers, northern harriers, California gnatcatchers and ospreys.

This is a time of year when shorebirds can be difficult to identify, so an expert birder will be on hand to help experienced people sort out the combinations of summer, winter and juvenile plumages. A second expert will help beginning birders identify species.

Those wishing to participate should wear comfortable shoes and bring binoculars, a field guide and a scope, if possible.

The tour is free and lasts three to four hours.

To get there take Jamboree Road either north from East Coast Highway or south from Corona del Mar Freeway or San Diego Freeway. Turn northwest on San Joaquin Hills Road toward the bay. Go right on Backbay Drive past the big curve to the parking lot on the left, where the tour will begin. Information, (714) 640-6746.