Check out our OC photographers’ favorite images from March 2024

Nikita Shirsat, center, is overcome with emotion as she reads her Match Day letter and finds out she’s going to Stanford Health Care for her pediatrics residency during a Match Day ceremony on campus in Irvine, CA, on Friday, March 15, 2024. Match Day is the day when the National Resident Matching Program releases results to applicants seeking residency and fellowship training positions in the United States. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Wilson Elementary students from Costa Mesa learn hands-on about water transportation during the Children’s Water Education Festival at UC Irvine on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Shohei Ohtani (17) of the Dodgers tips his hat to the crowd after a tribute video of Ohtani’s career at the Angels played on the giant screen during his first at bat in the first inning during the final preseason game against the Angels at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Wildlife Technician Christine Alexiou checks in a baby opossum at The Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach, CA on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. The center has started “Wildlife Wednesdays” where the public can see how animals are cared for at the rehabilitation hospital. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A bald eagle sits in a nest high in a tree close to its eaglet in northern Orange County on Monday, March 18, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

President George W. Bush embraces veteran Daniel Casara next to the painting of Casara, top right, during a tour of President Bush’s paintings for the exhibit, “Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors” at the Richard Nixon Library & Museum in Yorba Linda on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. The exhibit (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

As Sergio Sanchez’s mother takes his picture, Preacher pokes his head in and appears to smile for the camera during the Anaheim Hills Rotary Club Easter Festival on Sunday, March 24, 2024. The horse belongs to Anaheim Police officer Ryan Nichols with the monted police. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Wendy Rodas takes a ride in a swing hanging from a tree over The Arroyo Seco along the trail to Switzer Falls in Angeles National Forest on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Four-Year-old Phoebe Pare mimics the Easter Bunny while she and Cooper Baumen, also 4, get their picture taken during the Anaheim Hills Rotary Club Festival on Sunday, March 24, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Piper Mangan smiles as she waits for Anaheim Ducks’ player Radko Gudas, and his wife, Barbora Gudas, to meet her on the runway during the 15th Annual Lady Ducks Fashion Show in Anaheim, CA, on Monday, March 4, 2024. Mangan was treated for Tetralogy of Fallot and underwent open-heart surgery at 6 weeks old. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Jorge Rangel carries the processional cross during the Good Friday “Via Crucis” hike (Way of the Cross) at the Santiago Retreat Center in Silverado, CA on Friday, March 29, 2024. Visitors could also carry a cross simulating Jesus’ final day according to the Bible. The fourteen stations portray events from Jesus’ condemnation to his entombment. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Santa Margarita’s Trevor Banning (1), center, celebrates with teammates, from left, Gavin Spiridonoff (2), Brody Schumaker (5) and Logan De Groot (20) after scoring on a grand slam home run by Banning in a game against St. John Bosco in a Trinity League baseball game at Santa Margarita Catholic High School
in Rancho Santa Margarita on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Friends and family cheer for medical students David Beshai as he announces he’ll be doing he Medicine-Pediatrics residency at Loma Linda University during a Match Day ceremony on campus in Irvine, CA, on Friday, March 15, 2024. Match Day is the day when the National Resident Matching Program releases results to applicants seeking residency and fellowship training positions in the United States. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Aidan Fowler, a senior at JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, is the Orange County boys basketball player of the year for the 2023-24 season, on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Nathan Yanez, center, takes pregnancy pictures of Alex Alvarez and Carolina Gutierrez in Seal Beach, CA, on Monday, March 18, 2024. The two are expecting a by next week. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Children impersonate pirates as they get ready for the Little Pirate Treasure Hunt during the final day of the Festival of Whales in Dana Point on Sunday, March 3, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Presidential candidate Dr. Cornel West, center, takes a selfie with Shala and Ronnie Hawkins of Lake Forest at the Second Baptist Church in Santa Ana on Friday, March 29, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Three-year-old Oak Alvarado swings joyfully as her mother Desiree Khemtongpru pushes her during the Anaheim Hills Rotary Club Easter Festival on March 24, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Joshua Turner is dressed as Super Saiyan 3 outside WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. The three-day comic convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Westminster Chief of Police Darin Lenyi, left, salutes William A. Ward, right, who served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, as the city of Westminster hosts an inaugural American Vietnam War Veterans Day recognition ceremony at Sid Goldstein Freedom Park in Westminster on Friday, March 29, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Braden Taylor, 3, pauses as his father, Terry Taylor, takes a picture of him next to a replica of a recording breaking shark at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, March 28, 2024. The 140,000-square-foot store is the chain’s second location in Southern California. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

An Allen’s hummingbird visits a flower at Sherman Library and Gardens in Corona del Mar, CA on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. The gardens and a restaurant covers a city block along PCH. It was founded in 1966 by businessman Arnold D. Haskell. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Trevor Banning (1) of Santa Margarita, celebrates as he rounds first base after hitting a grand slam home run in a game against St. John Bosco in a Trinity League baseball game at Santa Margarita Catholic High School
in Rancho Santa Margarita on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Miguel Capuchino, and his wife Lucy Capuchino, dressed as Vulcans, helped organize a Star Trek meet-up in front of during WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. The three-day comic convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A hiker takes a photo of the sunrise as the water of Santiago Creek flow through Irvine Regional Park early on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Rains from recent storms have filled lakes and streams throughout Orange County for the past couple of years. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Surfer Brett Simpson and Peter ‘PT’ Townend stand inside cutouts at the International Surf Museum in Huntington Beach, CA on Thursday, March 21, 2024. Their new exhibit highlights Duke Kahanamoku and his efforts to get surfing into the Olympics. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

People walk between stations during the Good Friday “Via Crucis” hike (Way of the Cross) at the Santiago Retreat Center in Silverado, CA on Friday, March 29, 2024. The fourteen stations portray events from Jesus’ condemnation to his entombment. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Erin Williamson, front center, takes a selfie with a group of Helens as they gather on Main Street in downtown Yorba Linda for a Roper Romp around town, on Saturday, March 16, 2024. The Roper Romp pays homage to Mrs. Helen Roper from the 1970’s and 80’s show, Three’s Company. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Freddie Freeman, first baseman with the Los Angeles Dodgers, speaks about his time playing baseball in high school during the opening of the new Freddie Freeman Clubhouse at El Modena High School in Orange, on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Freeman donated the money for the new facility. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Trevor Dillon, the programming manager at The Frida Cinema in Santa Ana, CA, on Friday, March 22, 2024. George Romero’s classic zombie film, Dawn of the Dead, returns to select theaters in April and May to celebrate the film’s 45th anniversary. It’s coming to three local theaters in Gardena, Downtown LA and the Frida Cinema. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A granite Burmese python rests on the shoulders of Matt Palacios during the 15th anniversary event at the Reptile Zoo in Fountain Valley on Thursday, March 21, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A jogger passes exposed rock in Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park in Foothill Ranch on Sunday, March 24, 2024. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A bald eagle sits on a branch near its nest high in a tree in northern Orange County on Monday, March 18, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Cosplayer Katie Lowe takes a selfie in front of a video performance in the Bowers Museum’s new exhibit “Asian Comics: Evolution of an Art Form” in Santa Ana, CA on Thursday, March 7, 2024. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Kylie Tafua (14), left, of El Modena and Kaitlyn Galasso (56) celebrate after scoring against Los Alamitos in the second round of the Michelle Carew Classic softball tournament at Peralta Park in Anaheim on Thursday, March 28, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The tide pools near Main Beach in Laguna provide a unique view during low tide on Monday, March 18, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A baby squirrel is fed at The Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach, CA on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. The center has started “Wildlife Wednesdays” where the public can see how animals are cared for at the rehabilitation hospital. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Jano Yang, left, puts members of the audience inside a bubble during the Mega Bubblefest Laser Show at Bubblefest held at the Discovery Cube in Santa Ana on Friday, March 22, 2024. Bubblefest will run through Sunday, April 7th. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Sisters Hawa, Zahra and Amena Mati, from left, give their Oath of Allegiance during a citizenship ceremony at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, CA on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. The sisters are originally from Afghanistan. One hundred kids ages 10-18, and a few adults, became U.S. citizens at the event. Kids gain automatic citizenship after their parents become citizens. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Gabriel Hurtado of Norwalk with the Marine Corps League, takes a selfie with the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet after it arrived from MCAS Miramar in San Diego at its new home at the Great Park in Irvine on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Three aircraft made the journey on Tuesday, included: a Beechcraft T-34 Mento and a Chinese-built MiG 15, which will be a part of over 40 aircraft at the Flying Leathernecks Aviation Museum at the Great Park.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Henry sniffs his apple and oat retirement cake outside UCI Medical Center in Orange on March 12, 2024 during a retirement party. The dog, owned by Steve Booth, has been a certified therapy dog at the hospital. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Jack Nance of Orange holds his son, Sagan, 2, as he places the ballot for the 2024 Presidential Primary Election in the ballot drop box at the Vote Center located at the Orange Public Library in Orange, on Tuesday morning, March 5, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Freddie Freeman, right, first baseman with the Los Angeles Dodgers, embraces Steve Bernard, his head baseball coach at El Modena High School, during the opening of the new Freddie Freeman Clubhouse at El Modena High School in Orange, where Freeman attend school, on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Freeman donated the money for the new facility. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Daniel Siapin checks out the moon jellies during Homeschool Day at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, CA on Monday, March 11, 2024. The event allowed for independent and smaller homeschool groups to learn about marine life. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Groupo Folklorico Alebrijes dancers add color to a drab and rainy day during the 64th annual Swallows Day Parade in San Juan Capistrano on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Joelle Gino feels the mist from Black Star Canyon Falls in Trabuco Canyon, CA on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Five-year-old Molly McKinney helps paint a gray whale as her brother Ford’s shadow keeps her company at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point on Saturday, March 9, 2024. Volunteers were restoring Whale Walk, a path that pays hommage to the local mammals. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Photographer Kyle Matthew directs Troy Booth, dressed as Superman, outside WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. Booth traveled from the U.K. for the comic convention. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Adwait Bhagwat of Irvine stops to marvel and photograph a full rainbow seen over a meadow near the 405 freeway in Irvine on Sunday, March 31, 2024. Bhagwat, an amatuer photographer, said he is always looking to capture “natural phenomena.” Next week he will head to Texas to view the eclipse. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

As clouds begin to move into Orange County for a weekend of rain, snow and wind, Eder Ramirez of Orange takes advantage of the sunshine as he shoots some baskets at the court at Grijalva Park in Orange on Friday afternoon, March 1, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)