Ready for a dip

  

We paused for a picnic lunch in northern Sonoma County today (30 August 2025) and noticed a very large sea lion on an offshore rock. 

With a closer view, we could see that it was a Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus).  Note the paler fur color and the shorter snout (relative to California Sea Lion).

After a few minutes, the sea lion lumbered down the rock face to a low corner.  Note the very long flippers: 

 

 

 

 

 

The sea lion was perched on the edge of the rock, but we sensed that it might not be in that position for very long:

 

 

 

 

I thought the sea lion might continue moving down along the rock towards the edge of the water, but instead it launched (!) off the rock and dove directly into the water:  

 

 

 

Even along the coast today it was warm enough that I considered doing the same thing! 

 

Left behind

  

I've realized I don't share scat photos very often, but here's an interesting one — an example of Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) scat.

Dreaming of fish

  

Juvenile Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina), 1 June 2025
 

Dockside

  

Driving by Mason's Marina in Bodega Harbor today (16 April 2025), I noticed a Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) on one of the floating docks, but it looked like something else was there, too.  So I turned around for a better view and realized it was a small pup.  From a distance, I snapped a quick photo for the record.  Reviewing the photo later, I realized the pup still has an umbilical cord, so it's likely less than a week old.

Pile of pups

  

Thanks to a visit with Paul, we took a quick trip out to Point Reyes today and encountered some nice views of Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris) pups. 

Click here for more information about viewing elephant seals at Point Reyes.

Resting

  

Whew, it's been a busy time!  We've just finished Day 40 of a big project, so don't be surprised if you see us looking something like this Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) during the next few days.

Thank you so much for tuning in to the Natural History of Bodega Head.  I am so grateful for your thoughtful comments and questions and observations throughout the year!

Down and up

  

While helping out with a field trip in northern Sonoma County today (16 July 2024), we were fortunate to have nice views of a Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus).  

In the photo above, the Steller Sea Lion is the larger, blonder sea lion at the top.  It's surrounded by California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus).

At one point the sea lions started looking around while some birds were active in the area, which resulted in this fun head-on view of the Steller Sea Lion, and better views of the California Sea Lions for comparison:

 

 

P.S.  With many thanks to this summer's EVE 114 class for a great day in the field!

 

Subtle shades

  

A zoomed-in view, comparing color and pattern variation in Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina).  [You can click on the image for a larger version.]

Sleeping ones

We feel very fortunate to have encountered several ‘īlio holo i ka uaua, or Hawaiian Monk Seals (Neomonachus schauinslandi) during the past week.  The first ones on O’ahu were a mother with a 1-week-old pup!

Nearby we watched another monk seal coming ashore (that’s a golden plover on the nearby rock):

Monk seals spend a lot of time sleeping on beaches:

And it was fun to see them rolling in the sand:

Sometimes you could see some greenish coloration around their mouths, which I’ve read is algae growing on their fur:

All photos taken from a distance with a long lens and then heavily cropped.

Porpoising lions

  

Recently I've been getting quite a few questions about small groups of marine mammals observed swimming near shore off Bodega Head.  They're moving so quickly that it can be hard to make out different features.  But most of the time these are likely to be California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) porpoising at the surface, as shown above.

In photos, you can make out that they're sea lions pretty easily, but as they're swimming by sometimes you'll only see a smooth dark back, so it can be confusing.

Sleek sea lions swimming swiftly at the surface!

Lyin' lions

 

 

Mixed group of California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) and Steller Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus), photographed 14 July 2023.

Napping before the tide comes in

  

There are some pretty plump and healthy looking Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) pups around right now.  Nice to see!

Lean on me

 

 

California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus), 20 May 2023

 

[You can click on the image for a larger version.]

 

Irresistible

  

Ahh...such nice clean waves...not even the sea lions could resist dropping in!

Profile view

  

Although the light was dim, this profile view is helpful for identifying a young Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris).  Note the pointed snout and the dense and relatively thick eyebrow whiskers.  Photographed off Bodega Head on 20 November 2022.

At the surface

 

 

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) at the surface, 11 November 2022

Sunset swim

  

Sleek sea lions swimming and surfacing at sunset, 18 October 2022

One way to stay cool

  

Although air temperatures in Santa Rosa rose to 112°F (44°C) today, temperatures in Bodega Bay peaked at around 68°F (20°C).  But since it's going to stay warm for a few days, I thought this photo of a Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) might be a good one for bringing cooling thoughts to the surface.

Lions, porpoises, and a mystery

  

Several Steller Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus) swimming by while we were offshore on 21 August 2022.  

And although we saw several small groups of porpoises, here's the only photo that came out of a Dall's Porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli).  They're incredibly fast:

 

 

P.S.  In part I thought I'd show these marine mammals tonight because I also had an interesting observation from shore today.  Around midday it's possible I saw a group of Risso's Dolphins (Grampus griseus) swimming south past Bodega Head towards Point Reyes.  I'm not 100% certain, but I feel that it's likely, so if you're near the coast, keep your eyes open for tall, curved fins.

P.P.S.  And I'll add a few more photos to this post.  This is just for fun, and also in case anyone can help provide input re: an identification.  During the boat trip I turned to see an animal at the surface that I couldn't identify.  I thought I saw a somewhat bumpy back and then a gap and a bulbous head.  At sea I thought through the mammals it could possibly be, even something like a Pygmy Sperm Whale.  I snapped a few quick photos in the area, and I did capture something, but it was just a glimpse (a "Loch Ness" view?).  I won't bias you, but I'll tell you what I'm thinking below the photos.  [You can click on the images for larger versions.]

 

 

 

 

This is the same photo as the last one, but showing a wider view:

 

 

Although I don't think the photos are good enough (at least for me), my best guess right now is a Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea).  In the first mystery photo, it's possible that's one or two of the bumpy ridges along a Leatherback's shell.  And in the third mystery photo, perhaps that's part of the head and maybe the top edge of a flipper?  I'm not at all sure, so if you have more experience with Leatherbacks or small cetaceans, let me know what you think!  (And for better photos of a local Leatherback Turtle, you can review Doug Wilgis's photos from 2015.)

Checking in?

  

Well, I haven't been able to sort through my sea lion photos yet, but here are a couple more from 22 May 2022.  

A very large Steller Sea Lion approached a smaller individual.  I don't have much experience with this species, so I'm not totally sure what was going on.  

At first I thought it might be a large male interacting with a small female, but it seemed more like a mother-pup interaction.  Later I read that females have been seen nursing yearlings and older juveniles.  So perhaps this is a large female and a juvenile?

 

 

If you have thoughts about the identities of these individuals or about the interaction, I'd love to hear more.