Notes about your surroundings

Wetlands Tours--Public walking tours of the Bolsa Chica wetlands will be held Saturday morning. The tours, sponsored by Amigos de Bolsa Chica, will depart every 20 minutes beginning at 9 a.m. The last tour will depart at 10:30 a.m.

Docents will lead talks on various aspects of the wetland’s natural and human history at stations along the path. Walks generally take about 1 1/2 hours, with participants walking from station to station at their own pace.

The fall return of shore birds is beginning, and this is a good time of year for spotting rarities. Most of the returning shorebirds will still be in their bright breeding plumages. The nesting terns are still in residence, noisily feeding their offspring.

Those who wish to take part are asked to meet at the ecological reserve parking lot on the inland side of Pacific Coast Highway about half a mile south of Warner Avenue, across from Bolsa Chica State Beach. The event is free. Information: (714) 897-7003.

At Upper Newport Bay, another free walking tour is planned. The tour, which departs at 9 a.m. Saturday, is free and lasts about 2 1/2 hours.

Those who would like to participate are asked to go to Shellmaker Island off Backbay Drive in Newport Beach. The tour is offered by volunteer docents of the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve. Information: (714) 640-6746.

Bay Bird Counts--The Sea & Sage chapter is seeking volunteers to help with its monthly bird counts at Upper Newport Bay. The next count will be Aug. 13.

The census is taken by six teams at low tide and lasts about two to 2 1/2 hours.

The count will begin at 6:30 a.m.

Information about this or the field trips: (714) 786-8878.