Photo Of The Day and Natural History Commentary

At first glance this looks like a typical mother and pup harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi) pair. Its pupping season right now and this scene is repeated on the Children’s Pool beach all day long. However, this pup struggling, and appeared to me to perhaps have been abandoned. At least it had not hooked up with its mother in the several hours that I was there, and one of the seal people told me that they had identified it as separated from its mother since at least 5am that morning. While the mother was hopefully out in the water foraging, five hours is a fairly long time for a mother to be away from her days-old pup. If indeed the pup was abandoned, it is almost certainly doomed. Another nursing mother with her own pup cannot adopt a second, since she likely will not produce enough milk to nurse both pups until they are weaned. The only reprieve it would have is finding a mother who is still lactating but has lost her own pup and decides to adopt it, a situation that has been known to occur. It was heartbreaking to listen to the pup’s cries as it swam and crawled about the beach looking for its mother. As it did so, it would approach most of the adults and try to nurse. Some adults would simply roll over or move away, while others would give it a whack with their foreflipper. Mothers with their own pups were quite aggressive, biting and shoving the lone pup with vigor. The adult seen here did allow the pup to approach, and the two sniffed one another nose to nose in the typical mother-pup fashion. But moments after this image was taken, the adult whacked the pup across the face repeatedly. It was a tough scene to watch. Most of the crowd that had gathered on the bluff to see the pups (which were featured in the paper recently) laughed as this little one (and others) moved about the beach, but I am pretty sure that few fully appreciated the predicament this particular pup was in. Hopefully mother showed up after I left and all was well.

Pacific harbor seal, pup nuzzles an adult that is not its mother. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20446   Species: Phoca vitulina richardsi Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Here is another image of the little pup, crying while a nearby adult ignores it.

Pacific harbor seal. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20452   Species: Phoca vitulina richardsi Location: La Jolla, California, USA

This looks to me like a very pregnant harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi). Its pupping season right now and I’m guessing that she (if she is indeed a she) is about to pop the pup. If in fact it’s really a he, then he’s a porker.

Pacific harbor seal. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20444   Species: Phoca vitulina richardsi Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Asking someone if she is pregnant is never a good move.

One more of the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi) from the past couple days, this time turning to catch a look at some kids.

Pacific harbor seal stretches on a sandy beach. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20445   Species: Phoca vitulina richardsi Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Same harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi) as yesterday, here caught in the middle of a post-nap stretch.

Pacific harbor seal yawns and stretches on a sandy beach. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20455   Species: Phoca vitulina richardsi Location: La Jolla, California, USA

This harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi) doesn’t look too motivated this morning.

Pacific harbor seal yawns and stretches on a sandy beach. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20447   Species: Phoca vitulina richardsi Location: La Jolla, California, USA

This tiny harbor seal pup (Phoca vitulina richardsi) is pretty young, it still has its umbilical cord hanging on its belly.

Pacific harbor seal, newborn pup with umbilical cord. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20448   Species: Phoca vitulina richardsi Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Another photograph of two male northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) “bulls” fighting on a central California beach. These two started their battle on the sand and eventually took it into the surf. Note how scarred their chests, necks and proboscis (noses) are, the result of years of fighting and biting and the consequent, almost continuous, series of wounds they bear during the winter mating season.

Male elephant seals (bulls) rear up on their foreflippers and fight in the surf for access for mating females that are in estrous. Such fighting among elephant seals can take place on the beach or in the water. They bite and tear at each other on the neck and shoulders, drawing blood and creating scars on the tough hides. Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA. Image: 20369   Species: Mirounga angustirostris Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA

Male elephant seals haul out of the ocean and establish territories on the beach in December, in advance of females who arrive a few weeks later and among whom they form large harems. Throughout the birthing and mating season, which extends through March, males will fight among themselves to maintain or expand their territory and ward off other males who might mate with the females in their harem. Younger bachelor males without established territories will often try to “pick off” a female and mate with her if possible before the bull overseeing the harem notices. Fights like these are common, especially later in the season when most of the mating is done.

Here is another photograph of a large male northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) forcibly mating with a much smaller female. This bull holds her down with his enormous weight and even bites her into submission. Females elephant seals, when facing such a suitor, generally squak and put up a token display of annoyance, but do not actually attempt to fight off the male. They know that natural history, and the enormous sexual dimorphism of their species, works to the bull elephant seal’s advantage in these encounters.

A bull elephant seal forceably mates (copulates) with a much smaller female, often biting her into submission and using his weight to keep her from fleeing. Males may up to 5000 lbs, triple the size of females. Sandy beach rookery, winter, Central California. Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA. Image: 15408   Species: Mirounga angustirostris Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA

In this photograph an adult male northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) mates with a much smaller female. Note that the female is not given much choice in the matter. This is quite typical in elephant seal society, somewhat akin to human society of a few million years ago. The female’s pup is seen just in front of her, and stands a reasonable chance of being overrun by the event.

A bull elephant seal forceably mates (copulates) with a much smaller female, often biting her into submission and using his weight to keep her from fleeing. Males may up to 5000 lbs, triple the size of females. Sandy beach rookery, winter, Central California. Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA. Image: 20388   Species: Mirounga angustirostris Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA

Here we see two northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) “bulls” fighting on a central California beach. Male elephant seals haul out of the ocean and establish territories on the beach in December, in advance of females who arrive a few weeks later and among whom they form large harems. Throughout the birthing and mating season, which extends through March, males will fight among themselves to maintain or expand their territory and ward off other males who might mate with the females in their harem. Younger bachelor males without established territories will often try to “pick off” a female and mate with her if possible before the bull overseeing the harem notices. Fights like these are common, especially later in the season when most of the mating is done.

Male elephant seals (bulls) rear up on their foreflippers and fight for territory and harems of females. Bull elephant seals will haul out and fight from December through March, nearly fasting the entire time as they maintain their territory and harem. They bite and tear at each other on the neck and shoulders, drawing blood and creating scars on the tough hides. Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA. Image: 20377   Species: Mirounga angustirostris Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA

A photograph of a northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) “bull” bellowing on a central California beach. Other elephant seals can be seen on the sand and in the surf behind him. Bulls (adult males) spend a lot of time bellowing to communicate to surrounding elephant seals, including other bulls, the boundaries of their harem and beach territory and to issue challenges to other bulls that approach. The larger the bull, the deeper and louder the bellowing. As an elephant seal matures its proboscis (nose) grows huge, eventually obstructing the mouth and changing the sound of the bellowing so that it becomes a distinctive deep rumbling and popping sort of sound. Very curious and cool to listen to. Note that this fellow has some considerable scarring on his proboscis and about his chest, wounds acquired in combat with other bulls.

Male elephant seal rears up on its foreflippers and bellows to intimidate other males and to survey its beach territory. Winter, Central California. Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA. Image: 15521   Species: Mirounga angustirostris Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA

Another photograph of a northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) “bull” bellowing on a foggy central California beach.

Partially obscured by coastal morning fog, this male elephant seal rears up on its foreflippers and bellows to intimidate other males and to survey its beach territory. Winter, Central California. Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA. Image: 20418   Species: Mirounga angustirostris Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA

Check it out, these are two bull elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) fighting for territory and mating access to females. The bull on the right has got the upper hand, having a firm grip on the proboscis (nose) of the seal on the left. It might look funny but it is quite brutal. I’d never seen this particular angle before.

Male elephant seals (bulls) rear up on their foreflippers and fight for territory and harems of females. Bull elephant seals will haul out and fight from December through March, nearly fasting the entire time as they maintain their territory and harem. They bite and tear at each other on the neck and shoulders, drawing blood and creating scars on the tough hides. Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA. Image: 20375   Species: Mirounga angustirostris Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA

This is a “weaner", a young northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) that has been weaned (is no longer nursing milk from its mother) and is now on its own. In fact its mother has probably already left the beach and is now at far at sea foraging for food. This young elephant seal will likely never meet its mother again.

Northern elephant seal, pup. Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA. Image: 00948   Species: Mirounga angustirostris Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA

Females nurse their pups on fat-rich milk for only 28 days. Shortly before she weans her pup, the female will mate with one or more of the mature bull elephant seals. She will then return to the ocean leaving the pup to fend for itself. At this point the 300 pound pup is called a weaner and its existence is quite precarious. It must learn to swim and forage for itself, living off its fat reserves as it does so. For two months a weaner will remain at the rookery, gradually gaining swimming and foraging skills. If it is successful and survives, it will adopt a diet of squid, fish, rays and small sharks.

This northern elephant seal pup (Mirounga angustirostris) looks like it has issues to work out with its mother.

Elephant seal mother and pup vocalize to one another constantly, likely to reassure the pup and confirm the maternal identity on a crowded beach. Central California. Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA. Image: 15421   Species: Mirounga angustirostris Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA

In December females return to the colony and form harems around the males. Elephant seals are highly sexually dimorphic, meaning the males and females differ in size considerably. Female elephant seals are much smaller than the males, up to 10 feet in length and weighing one ton. Generally within five days of their arrival at the colony from eight months at sea, the females give birth to a single pup that they have been carrying since the previous breeding season. Births are usually first observed in late December and continue increasingly through February, peaking near mid-February. Often seagulls will be the first to detect a new birth, flocking to the birth to feast on the discarded placenta. Vocal bonding between the pup and mother is critical and takes place immediately as this is the only certain way the mother and pup can identify one another if they are separated, which is a common occurrence on a crowded beach and beside 5000 pound males that do not hesitate to trample and push the pups aside while mating or fighting. Orphaned pups are commonly observed, usually through separation with their mothers or by virtue of a mother than is insufficiently mature to understand how to care for its pup. Some mothers who have lost their pup will attempt to steal another female’s pup. Some mothers will also tolerate an orphaned pup nursing, although this may actually doom both pups as it is thought that a mother only has enough milk supply to properly nourish a single pup each season, since for each pound that a pup gains its mother will have lost two. It is estimated that about 3500 pups were born at the Piedras Blancas rookery in 2005. Pups weigh up to 75 lbs. at birth and may be four feet long. When they are first born they carry a striking dark black, smooth coat which will gradually fade to brown as the pup matures.

Here we see part of the burgeoning Piedras Blancas colony of northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) crowding the beach. In actuality this is about half of the animals that were here at the peak, a few weeks earlier. Many of the females have already weaned there pups (or lost them during the high waves that came in January) and have mated, and are now back at sea.

Elephant seals crowd a sand beach at the Piedras Blancas rookery near San Simeon. Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA. Image: 20358   Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA

Although Northern elephant seals are oceanic animals and as individuals spend the majority of their life at sea, as a population elephant seals utilize the Piedras Blancas colony nearly year round. There are two principal reasons elephant seals come ashore: molting (shedding their fur coat) and birthing/breeding. From April through August the elephant seals return to shore to molt, with females and juveniles molting first followed by subadult males and finally adult males. By August they are gone, back at sea with a new coat of a fur. In fall, immature animals will haul out to rest, younger animals appearing in September and older animals later. However, in general these immature elephant seals, typically weaners, yearlings and subadults, do not stay into the breeding season, generally leaving by late November to make way for the older animals.

I arrived at the elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) rookery before sunrise and walked out in heavy fog, not able to even see the water. Gradually the fog burned off as the sun appeared and I could start to see some of the seals. Here is a big bull splayed out on the sand, just visible through the clearing mist:

An enormous elephant seal bull male lays on the beach, partially obscured by typical central California coastal fog. Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA. Image: 20399   Species: Mirounga angustirostris Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA

I stopped for a bit in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in Big Sur, to make the short walk to McWay Falls. I walked over to the bluff you see above and to the right of the falls, the one with the trees overlooking the ocean. There is a small campground hidden in those trees, probably the coolest little camp hideout I have ever seen, I had no idea it was there. It would be great to set up our little tent and spend an afternoon on that perch, among the trees, with the falls just below. McWay Falls is fed by underground springs so it flows strongly year-round. It drops from oceanside cliffs directly onto the sand of McWay Cove and, when viewed from the overlook, is surrounded by the incredible Big Sur coastline. I saw a few gray whales blow and sound while I was there. Its a great place and literally only about 10 minutes by foot from Highway 1.

McWay Falls drops 80 feet on the sand in McWay Cove. McWay Falls is fed by springs so falls year round. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Big Sur, California, USA. Image: 20363   Location: Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Big Sur, California, USA

McWay Falls drops 80 feet on the sand in McWay Cove. McWay Falls is fed by springs so falls year round. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Big Sur, California, USA. Image: 20365   Location: Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Big Sur, California, USA

The Piedras Blancas lighthouse, which sits on BLM land just north of San Simeon and Hearst Castle in central California, originally stood 115 feet tall when it was completed in 1875. It is one of only two coastline “tall-style” lighthouses on the California coast, the other being at Point Arena. The original lens and lensroom were damaged in a storm, and now the lens is on display in the town of Cambria nearby. A replacement, automated light is now in use in the tower.

Piedras Blancas lighthouse. Completed in 1875, the 115-foot-tall Piedras Blancas lighthouse is one of the few tall-style lighthouses on the West Coast of the United States. Piedras Blancas, named for a group of three white rocks just offshore, is north of San Simeon, California very close to Hearst Castle. Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA. Image: 20348   Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA

Piedras Blancas lighthouse. Completed in 1875, the 115-foot-tall Piedras Blancas lighthouse is one of the few tall-style lighthouses on the West Coast of the United States. Piedras Blancas, named for a group of three white rocks just offshore, is north of San Simeon, California very close to Hearst Castle. Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA. Image: 15654   Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA

Piedras Blancas lighthouse. Completed in 1875, the 115-foot-tall Piedras Blancas lighthouse is one of the few tall-style lighthouses on the West Coast of the United States. Piedras Blancas, named for a group of three white rocks just offshore, is north of San Simeon, California very close to Hearst Castle. Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA. Image: 20350   Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA

On my way back down the coast from Big Sur I made a stop in Morro Bay for a bite, and to take a quick look in the harbor for interesting fishing boats, birds or otters. I didn’t see any good birds, and the light was overcast which made for poor photography of boats, but I went to my secret otter spot and lo-and-behold I found a raft of eight sea otters (Enhydra lutris), including three pups. This pup was constantly on the move, diving and swimming circles around its mother and making lots of loud chirping noises. In fact I heard him from far off before I even saw the otters. I hung out for about an hour trying to get some photos of the otters, but they were mostly resting, tied up in kelp to keep from drifting with the incoming tide.

A female sea otter floats on its back on the ocean surface while her pup pops its head above the water for a look around. Both otters will wrap itself in kelp (seaweed) to keep from drifting as it rests and floats. Morro Bay, California, USA. Image: 20434   Species: Enhydra lutris Location: Morro Bay, California, USA

Here is a California brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) preening. Using it’s long bill, the pelican spreads preen oil from its uropygial gland (near its tail) and spreads it over its wings and head. The preen oil helps to keep the feathers clean and dry. Check out the bird’s coloration, it is at the height of it’s breeding plumage with a bright red throat and chestnut brown hind neck.

See our Guide to Photographing Pelicans in La Jolla.

A brown pelican preening, reaching with its beak to the uropygial gland (preen gland) near the base of its tail. Preen oil from the uropygial gland is spread by the pelican’s beak and back of its head to all other feathers on the pelican, helping to keep them water resistant and dry. Note adult winter breeding plumage in display, with brown neck, red gular throat pouch and yellow and white head. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20295   Species: Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Yet another photo of a pelican in flight. This California brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is seen soaring over the cliffs looking for a place to land and preen in the warm sun.

See our Guide to Photographing Pelicans in La Jolla.

Brown pelican in flight. The wingspan of the brown pelican is over 7 feet wide. The California race of the brown pelican holds endangered species status. In winter months, breeding adults assume a dramatic plumage. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20294   Species: Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus Location: La Jolla, California, USA

This abstract water photograph is a blurred time exposure of the ocean surface in La Jolla.

Abstract colors and water patterns on the ocean surface. Image: 20343

This California brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is resting and warming itself in the sun after a morning foraging at sea. Its head is pointed behind itself and nestled between its wings.

See our Guide to Photographing Pelicans in La Jolla.

Brown pelican closeup showing characteristic winter mating plumage, including yellow head, dark brown nape of neck and red gular throat pouch. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20154   Species: Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Check out the deep pink skies, it was a super sunrise the morning I shot this. Probably due to smog or something. This is famous La Jolla Cove, one of the jewels of San Diego and home to good diving and snorkling, bird and whale watching, and rough-water swimming. It takes a really big swell to get the wave at La Jolla Cove to break, but when it does it is impressive. This day it was super flat. So dreamy.

La Jolla Cove meets the dawn with pink skies and a flat ocean. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20251   Location: La Jolla, California, USA

This is the bluff on which the bird photographers take their photos of the California brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) in their breeding plumage. Note the distinct absence of photographers – this is unusual and due to the early hour (well before sunrise). I like to get to the bluff very early and watch the birds arrive. More pelicans and cormorants than are seen in this image will arrive soon, to warm themselves on the rocks when the sun hits, and photographers will likely follow. As I recall, on the morning this was taken I was the only person there for quite a while.

Check out our Guide to Photographing Pelicans in La Jolla.

Bluff and trees overlooking the ocean near La Jolla Cove, sunrise. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20249   Location: La Jolla, California, USA

The biggest of the caves in La Jolla is seen here at sunrise. The other caves are around to the right. Atop this sandstone bluff are found many seabirds, particularly in winter when California brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) and cormorants can be seen here in their breeding plumage. Few birds appear in this image since this was taken in the cold hours before sunrise, but when the sun hits the bluff many more birds will arrive to warm themselves and preen throughout the morning.

A large natural sea cave lies below a sandstone bluff in La Jolla at sunrise with a pink sky, Black’s Beach in the distant. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20250   Location: La Jolla, California, USA

The La Jolla Cliffs early in the morning, under a pink sunrise. Marine Room restaurant is on the far left, and the famous caves are seen at the base of the cliffs. Check out the thousands of cormorants resting on the cliffs. They will eventually fly out to forage on the ocean, returning later in the morning.

La Jolla Cliffs overlook the ocean with thousands of cormorants, pelicans and gulls resting and preening on the sandstone cliffs. Sunrise with pink skies. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20254   Location: La Jolla, California, USA

La Jolla Cliffs overlook the ocean with thousands of cormorants, pelicans and gulls resting and preening on the sandstone cliffs. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20256   Location: La Jolla, California, USA