Anza Borrego, Sonny Bono Wildlife Refuge and Bombay Beach

We started this photo adventure on Friday, January 2 by taking a beautiful drive across the mountains to Anza Borrego State Park. Because of the recent rains, our first stop was to see the wildflower fields, and we weren't disappointed.

Next stop was Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge Unit 1. The South County Photo Club outing was scheduled there Saturday morning, but we wanted to get an early look at the area first. Not much activity nearby that evening, but I got one shot of a group of Black-necked Stilts flying by.

But, Saturday morning was a different story. Making the effort to arrive at sunrise produced some crazy Snow Geese activity in the form of huge flocks flying from one pond to a field just a few hundred meters away.

Juvenile Blue Morph Snow Goose

Exploring the nearby ponds, we got to observe a good variety of birds, including White-faced Ibis, Long-billed Dowitchers, Black-necked Stilts, and even a Loggerhead Shrike among others.

Then, at 9:30 the club gang arrived and the official outing started. My friends and I had got the best birding shots early, so we kibitzed while the gang perused the same area we covered. But soon after, we began our Burrowing Owl Extravaganza. The group leader took us to known areas where these cute little owls set up their homes and we did get some pretty good shots.

After lunch at the Visitor Center, the next stop was Bombay Beach on the northeast side of the Salton Sea. There is a small residential area, filled with many unusual artful displays. In the 1950s, it was a very popular vacation spot, attracting many, including celebrities who even had homes there. However, the lake's salinity rose so much that it became toxic to wildlife and people started moving away.

When walking through the community, one notices it to be a sort of bohemian playground with art described as surreal and apocalyptic. The beach is now a popular destination for campers and RVs. Interesting facts: Population is 231 from the 2020 census, and it is the lowest community in the U.S. at 223 feet (68 m) below sea level.

We were entertained by a dramatic sunset, so all cameras were out for a good long time! Because there wasn't really enough time to walk the whole beach and record all the fun artwork, future visits will surely be planned.