February 7, 2012 (Lakeside) -- No, it's not an insect or an invader from outer space. It's an up-close view of the Erickson air crane "Sunbird" erecting the Sunrise Powerlink in Lakeside's Wildcat Canyon/El Monte Valley area.

Billy Ortiz snapped this head-on closeup image of the massive helicopter, which is capable of hoisting heavy loads including transmission towers.

 
January10, 2012 (Lakeside)  - ECM photographer Dennis Richardson snapped this photo of the unusually bright full moon this weekend at his home in Lakeside.

 
“I took it from my back yard using a 100 X 400 mm Canon lens set on 400 mm,” he said. 

December 16, 2011 (Alpine) - It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Viejas Outlet Centers and Viejas Casino. ECM editor Miriam Raftery snapped this shot of holiday lighting at Viejas, where you'll find San Diego's largest outdoor ice skating rink, a holiday fountain light show, national-brand shops and more this holiday season.  

By Miriam Raftery

November 8, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- ECM editor Miriam Raftery snapped this colorful image of a monarch butterfly on a lantana plant at the backyard of a home near San Diego State University on last weekend's Sustainable Homes Tour.

September 24, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Photographer Greg Turok snapped these images of a Nutmeg Mannakin, or Spice Finch, and its mate in the Mission Trails Regional Park area Sept. 5. 

 “This bird is a recent resident to San Diego County,” said Turok, who has had the bird identified by the Ornithology Department at the San Diego Natural History Museum. 

 
 
August 21, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Photographer Wayne Brammer sent in these images of construction along the Sunrise Powerlink, with the following commentary on the Sunbird sky crane.

 
“Now if you’re a big kid like myself, you may like seeing choppers lifting BIG stuff.  Now this is a big chopper…”

August 9, 2011 (Jamul) – What could be cuter than a bouncing baby bobcat? How about an entire bobcat family?

July 29, 2011 (Lakeside) –Thanks to Mike and Cathy Sears for sending in this photo of a surprising visitor in the birdbath outside their home on Wildcat Canyon Road in Lakeside.

“It’s one of two red shouldered hawks in the area,” Mike said. “The hawks will even in get in and splash around in the bird bath.”

July 16, 2011 (Jacumba) -- Wayne Brammer captured these two images of a Cal-Fire crew and a San Diego Sheriff's helicopter in action battling a brush fire near Jacumba this week.

"With all  the power lines running all over this area, my hat goes off to all of these guys. The smoke and power lines made it tough," he wrote, adding that he was amazed to see a house still standing after this blaze near Old Highway 80.

Photos by Mark and Miriam Raftery

 
July 6, 2011 (Santee) -- The City of Santee hosted its annual "Santee Salutes" patriotic celebration on July 4th, drawing families from across East County for this major event.

Scroll down to view photos of participants enjoying fun in the sun, followed by fireworks in the park after dark.

April 18, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- While beach denizens are contending with coastal fog, the sun is shining out here in East County--where it's just another day in paradise this time of year.  

We hope you'll enjoy our local photographers' images of springtime in East County!

March 29, 2011 (San Diego's East County)-- Signs of spring abound! 

The past couple of weeks, our photographers found no shortage of birds and bees, flowers and trees resplendant in spring foliage.  They also spotted signs of wild life both on the trail and off,  as East County residents heralded in St. Patrick's Day.