Notes about your surroundingsTour Season--The Friends of...

Notes about your surroundings

Tour Season--The Friends of Newport Bay group begins its 28th season of free, guided walking tours of the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve on Saturday. From 9 to 10:15 a.m., groups will leave every 15 minutes from Eastbluff and Backbay drives. After the 90-minute tour, visitors are welcome to stay.

In addition to allowing observation of the abundant bird life, the tours include stops to discuss the bay’s history, its geology and fossils, the freshwater and saltwater marsh plants and the intricate food chain.

The tour route is paved and the pace is easy, but comfortable shoes are recommended. A camera, binoculars, a hat if it’s sunny and a bird book will also come in handy.

Future tour dates are Nov. 9, Dec. 14, Jan. 11, Feb. 8 and March 8.

Sweet Talk--Laguna Coast Wilderness Park will be the subject of a lecture and slide show Tuesday presented by the Orange County Natural History Assn. and given by Larry Sweet, ranger at the park.

The regional park, opened to the public in 1993, lies on 3,200 acres of coastal wilderness bordered on one side by Laguna Canyon Road. It is home to several rare species of plants and animals, including the California gnatcatcher.

The free lecture begins at 7:30 p.m. in the ballroom of the Sea Country Senior & Community Center, 24602 Aliso Creek Road, Laguna Niguel. The center is at Moulton Parkway and Aliso Creek Road between Crown Valley Parkway and Pacific Park Drive. For information, call (714) 487-9155.

Wingding: Amigos de Bolsa Chica’s “Running Is for the Birds” race at Bolsa Chica State Beach takes place Saturday morning. The event is one of the group’s largest annual fund-raisers to preserve, protect and restore the Bolsa Chica wetlands. For information, call (714) 897-7003.