Dear Friend,

Autumn is finally here so may I have my pumpkin spice now?! Ok, pumpkin spice might be overrated (but still delicious), however our new calendars aren't something to scoff at. With stunning wildlife photos and educational tidbits, it is a great functional focal point on any wall.

It's also the ideal time to become a Miracles of the Marsh education docent! School is in full swing, and those 3rd graders deserve a field trip to Bolsa Chica. You can make their trip the best field trip of the year while sharing the beauty and importance of protecting natural open spaces with the future leaders of our world.

Finally, we wanted to give a shout out to all the amazing volunteers who came out to pick up trash during our Coastal Cleanup Event on September 20th. You are the bee's knees...or something like that.

Happy Halloween!

Until next time, see you on the trails.

We're excited to announce the 2026 'Wings Over Bolsa' calendar is now available on our website!!

*all photos were taken right here at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

*13-month format

*major holidays and moon phases each month

*educational captions

*printed with soy inks on recycled paper right here in OC

only $20 donation per calendar, or order 4 get 1 free deal!

These make beautiful gifts for friends or family full of high quality images of Bolsa Chica, regardless of if you actually use it like a calendar or not.

Now is the time to join our Miracles of the Marsh Docent team! Schools are starting to schedule their in-class presentations and onsite tours with the Miracles program to teach their 3rd grade students the wonderful things about Bolsa Chica. Docents are a critical component of our educational program for our local schools. Many of these kids have never been to a natural open space before let alone an important wetland ecosystem like Bolsa Chica.

Be a positive influence on the next generation of environmental stewards and watch their excitement when they see a Great Blue Heron for the first time or giggle at a lizard doing pushups. Our future is in their hands, let's make sure they understand why protecting and preserving the natural world is worth fighting for.

The Bolsa Chica Stewards would like to thank the volunteers (not all pictured) who helped clean up Bolsa Chica on Sept. 20th! All your hard work made the pickleweed habitat free of trash pollution which also prevents it from getting swept into the Pacific Ocean with the high tide. The birds who rely on that habitat and all the other animals who live in and round the shore and waters are safer because of you.

Trash cleanups are just one thing the Bolsa Chica Stewards do to help restore Bolsa Chica and create sustainable habitats for the wildlife who call Bolsa Chica home. From trash cleanups to growing native plants, learn more about the Bolsa Chica Stewards and consider joining us for any of our Volunteer Events.

October's Animal of the Month: Variegated Meadowhawk Dragonfly

Known as the Variegated Meadowhawk, the body and the wings of this older male dragonfly are a bright rust color but can be variable with an olive/gray and reddish plaid colored body. They can be found flying above slow-moving water. Their four wings can move independently, and they can fly backwards and forward. Insects are an important part of the food web at Bolsa Chica for birds like a Say’s Phoebe which at Bolsa Chica are a main predator of dragonflies. Variegated Meadowhawks can be found from the lower mountain elevations down to sea level. They prey on mosquitoes and other small flies and insects found near bodies of water. The fairy-tale-like charm of dragonflies has inspired many jewelers and artists to design beautiful jewelry, mosaics, sculptures, and paintings depicting them.

1.7” long

photo: Jodi Newell

Reminders When You Visit Bolsa Chica

Here are some things to remember during your visit:

• Please stay on the trails. Not only could you disturb nesting birds, but snakes are often not far off the trails.
• Enjoy the flowers, but please do not pick them.
• Do not feed the animals.
• Do not litter. Please pack out your trash, including food scraps.
• No bikes or ebikes.
• No dogs.
• No drones.
• Enjoy being with nature!
• If you see any BCLT Stewards working along the trail, say hi! We are happy to answer any questions.

Support Bolsa Chica Today!

Questions? Email us at Info@BCLandTrust.org or call (714) 846-1001

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Photo Credits:

Monarch- E. Chin, calendar- Brian Goebel, coastal cleanup- Beverley Hansen, Miracles docent with kids outreach table- Jeff Rokos, volunteers on beach- Mike McMahan, landscape-Eileen Rizzacasa, Variegated Meadowhawk- Jodi Newell