I took these photos in September and December 2015.  I was delighted to get close enough for decent shots with my point-and-shoot camera; but at the time I could only identify my subjects as seals (or possibly sea lions?) and birds that looked like gulls and “sandpipers.”  I’m pleased to say I finally took the time to sit down at the computer and educate myself about these California coastal critters. “Pacific Harbor Seals are found north of the equator in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In the northeast Pacific, they range from Alaska to Baja California, Mexico. They favor near-shore coastal waters and are often seen on rocky islands, sandy beaches, mudflats, bays, and estuaries… “Pacific harbor seals spend about half their time on land and half in water. They can dive to 1,500 feet (457 m) for up to 40 minutes, although their average dive lasts three to seven minutes and is typically shallow, and they sometimes sleep in the water. They are opportunistic feeders, eating sole, flounder, sculpin, hake, cod, herring, octopus, and squid. While harbor seals swim safely in the surf, they will often curiously watch humans walking on beaches. However, they are wary of people while on land and will rush into the water if approached too closely or disturbed. In fact, if disturbed too often, they have been known to abandon favorite haul-out sites or their pups.”  Quoted from The Marine Mammal Center web […]

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