Bolsa Chica Wetlands

today we visited the wetlands for the first time. (our original plans for today included a playdate with a friend at a park and pictures of all 4 kids at the brea mall, but jojo's face isn't ready for photos and our friends called sick, so...) last night i found this book at the library baby's day out in so cal and it reminded me of the wetlands. this was an impromptu field trip so there was no foreknowledge of what we were getting into.

we started out on the 1 1/2 mile trail with no map or idea of where we were going other than mommy's repeated direction to "stay on the trail". we enjoyed the plants, animals, and surroundings. the kids had fun. i was trying to do something new - being quiet (that's the new part) so that we could see some animals. prompting them to look, smell, listen, and feel everything around them (that was in reach while they "stay on the trail", of course)

this picture shows you a basic idea of the wetlands. we're on a trail then there's water, then there's PCH, then there's bolsa chica state beach.

we saw many flowers that we cannot identify.

here are some grasses that we did quiet ourselves to listen to. they reminded us of the sounds of the grasses written about in little house on the prairie (what we're currently reading)

we saw many birds that we have identified! (i was impressed with myself.) we saw many marbled godwits (pictured) and american coots.

this is a great white egret that was not too far from us on the trail. it did move off and hide as we approached, but we were slow and quiet(!) and got to watch it for a while.

and, of course, we saw bugs! kiki actually took the honey bee photo by himself!

what is next to this lady bug? kiki says it's a red spotted roly poly.
this bug looks huge, but it's really just his shadow!

a passerby offered to let me be in a photo!