The ground is saturated and the San Dieguito River near our home has swollen considerably from a relentless series of atmospheric rivers pounding the California coast in the first two weeks of January 2023.

A flock of Greater White-Fronted Geese led a recent flight over the river and the old Polo Fields just east of Del Mar. Until the fall of 2022, no more than five of these small geese had been seen in a group in over 40 years. Instead of wintering in Mexico, this year they are spending the colder months in the San Dieguito River Valley.