During an ordinary beach walk, a gray whale slipped into our sight yesterday, a benediction from the sea. Perhaps we should have known something unusual was happening in the Santa Monica Bay because several groups of brown pelicans were seen diving for fish, making a big splash before taking off in flight repeatedly. Known to migrate through Santa MonicaContinue reading “Gray Whale”
Category Archives: Mammals
Southern Sea Otters: A Keystone Species
Found in California’s offshore waters between Half Moon Bay and Santa Barbara, the southern sea otter is a playful animal which uses its chest both as a dining room table and a place to groom its pups. Lolling just beyond the breaking shore waves, rafts of sea otters wrap themselves in kelp for protection from greatContinue reading “Southern Sea Otters: A Keystone Species”
Monterey Bay
Visitors to Monterey Bay quickly find their ears tuning to unusual sounds at the shore. What is that roar? Did I just hear a bark? Sea lions are easily seen under Fisherman’s Wharf, on wood platforms which appear to be custom-made for them. When the water warms more than they’re accustomed to, they engage in jugging, andContinue reading “Monterey Bay”
Raccoon appearance
The genesis for this project was an attempt to document, literarily and pictorially, some of the species in our Southern California neighborhood. A coyote yipping outside our window one evening resolved the question of whether the 2018 Woolsey Fire drove animals into Point Dume in greater numbers. Having heard from neighbors that raccoons were inContinue reading “Raccoon appearance”
Mashabu 