PHOTOGRAPHER'S PERSPECTIVE ON LOCATION SERIES: CALIFORNIA

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BOLSA CHICA ECOLOGICAL RESERVE, HUNTINGTON BEACH
SANTEE LAKES RECREATION PERSERVE, SANTEE

BOLSA CHICA ECOLOGICAL RESERVE
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA
Text and image copyright Richard Mittleman, all rights reserved

ACCESS
The Reserve can be accessed at all times and there is no fee for entry.

AREA LAYOUT
The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is located on the Pacific Coast Highway on the inland side, between Warner and Seapoint Avenues. A free parking lot is located where a foot bridge crosses inner Bolsa Bay. The Reserve consists of 185 acres with another 600 acre addition planned for its future. A sandy trail, elevated roughly five feet at many places, leads through the reserve with opportunities to photograph subjects on the inner bay on one side, subjects at various ponds on the other.

WHAT YOU’LL FIND
With wetlands boasting a reputation for being one of the best birding spots in the United States, the coastal salt marsh is teaming with plant life and wildlife. It attracts migratory birds in scores while in transit to and from South America. As is the nature of shorebirds, low tide is best for photographic opportunities.

Starting mid- to late May, Black Neck Stilts may nest in numerous locations along the loop trail and are very accessible for photographing. There are also some nesting American Avocets, but they are not generally as close to the trail as the stilt nests are. During the summer months Bolsa Chica provides a safe haven for five nesting colonies of terns, including the Elegant Tern, which distinguishes Bolsa Chica as one of only four places in the world where it nests. Other species such as Beldings Savannah Sparrows, Peregrine Falcons, Brown Pelicans, Light-Footed Clapper Rails, and Black Skimmers can also be found at the Reserve. In addition to the usual shorebirds there may be appearances by Common, Pacific, and possibly Red-throated Loons in the Bolsa inner Bay. During winter months numerous varieties of waterfowl and shorebirds are present and feeding on the Reserve.

Because the loop trail is elevated above the water areas it is not always easy to get images of shorebirds from a low vantage point, but it is possible at times and in certain areas. Shooting from the bridge is often rewarding as the terns and skimmers regularly fly relatively low and directly over the bridge. Loons, grebes and a wide variety of other birds will swim very close to and often under the bridge. The drawback to shooting from the wooden bridge is that it shakes with frequent foot traffic of other outdoor enthusiasts. When shooting into the bay from the bridge you are, of course, shooting down on your subjects, but a long lens and a subject that’s not too close can help reduce the apparent angle.

LIGHT
The best route to walk in the morning starts across the wooden foot bridge and onto the loop trail. The sun will be at your back for shooting into the bay which will be on your left and the light is on the right until you reach the tide gate where the trail loops back towards the bridge.

In the late afternoon walking the same half of the trail allows you to shoot into the ponds on the right hand side where stilts usually nest in spring. At the tide gate, which is where the trail starts its loop back to the bridge, the late afternoon sun is at your back and it is an excellent spot in the spring and summer for shooting hovering and diving Elegant and Forster's Terns and Black Skimmers.

Further along the loop trail past the tide gate the sun is at your back during your return to the bridge and is excellent for shooting into the bay which is on your left.

Being situated near the ocean, Bolsa Chica Reserve often has its own unique weather pattern. In June the phenomenon know locally as "June gloom" is typical: the sun frequently is not out until after noon and the sky remains overcast at Bolsa Chica. It is quite common for the sun to be shining one mile inland yet be overcast near the beach. Internet weather forecasts for Huntington Beach are often not indicative of the actual conditions at Bolsa Chica, especially before noon.

MORE INFORMATION
For more information on the internet visit: http://www.bolsachica.org.

Richard Mittleman lives in California and visits Bolsa Chica frequently. To see more of his images go to his portfolio at http://gon2foto.imageculture.com.

SANTEE LAKES RECREATION PRESERVE
SANTEE, CALIFORNIA
Text copyright Jason Vaclavek, image copyright Tim Vaclavek, all rights reserved

ACCESS
Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve is located on Carlton Oaks Drive in Santee. Take Highway 52 east and exit at Mission Gorge Road. Turn right (east) onto Mission Gorge Road, take a left onto Carlton Hills Boulevard, then turn left onto Carlton Oaks Drive. Santee Lakes is the second drive on the right after Fanita Parkway.

Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday 8am to sunset; Friday through Sunday 6am to sunset. Gates are closed and locked when the Preserve is closed. Entrance fees are minimal at $2 per vehicle on weekdays and $3 on weekends and holidays. A walk-through gate located at Fanita Parkway and Lake Canyon Drive is free.

AREA LAYOUT
Santee Recreation Preserve is made up of seven manmade lakes that are part of a water reclamation system. These lakes run in almost a straight line stretching north to south, with Lake 1 located at the southern-most end. Walking trails provide accessibility to each lake, but visitors are not restricted to just the trails – at any lake you can walk up to the waterline.

The last two lakes, Lake 6 and Lake 7, are usually reserved for campers only. These lakes are very popular for fishing.

WHAT YOU’LL FIND
At the lakes office you can obtain a list of the different birds that may be found at Santee. The lakes are home to about 180 different types of birds and waterfowl year-round, among them a variety of ducks, grebes, geese, mergansers, woodpeckers, wading birds, and more. Santee is well-known for its approachable birds. Spring brings opportunities for images of baby ducks as well as other birds.

Lakes 1 and 5 have boat rentals available, a good option as the islands found on these two lakes have additional photo opportunities. This can also offer a good perspective: eye-level with squirrels found on some of the banks around the lakes.

LIGHT
With so much lakeside area at Santee, there are spots which allow first morning light through to birds on the water, as well as places that allow last light in the afternoon. However, there are many surrounding trees casting shade around the lakes and you may have to move around for the best positioning.

Jason Vaclavek frequently visits the lakes at Santee for photography and also works for the water district that owns and operates the Preserve.

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