Sea Lavender / Shack

Sea Lavender - Monterey County  2025

Shack, Cormorants, Gull - Monterey County  2025

I left the beach area to take a walk around the Coast Guard walkway and the Cannery Row area, with the commotion from the sea lions as background noise. 

Then, a blueberry muffin and coffee and the drive home.

Monday Sea Lion Blogging

Seals - Monterey County  2025

I'm usually able to walk down to the beach for photos, as I did in 2014, for example. 

Not this morning! As soon as I parked my car and got out I could hear them barking and honking. Quite the sight!

Please Stay Back - Monterey County  2025

Extra information on seals vs sea lions:

Both seals and sea lions, together with the walrus, are pinnipeds, which means "fin footed" in Latin.

But seals' furry, generally stubby front feet — thinly webbed flippers, actually, with a claw on each small toe — seem petite in comparison to the mostly skin-covered, elongated fore flippers that sea lions possess.

Secondly, sea lions have small flaps for outer ears. The "earless" or "true" seals lack external ears altogether. You have to get very close to see the tiny holes on the sides of a seal’s sleek head.

Third, sea lions are noisy. Seals are quieter, vocalizing via soft grunts.

Fourth, while both species spend time both in and out of the water, seals are better adapted to live in the water than on land. Though their bodies can appear chubby, seals are generally smaller and more aquadynamic than sea lions. At the same time, their hind flippers angle backward and don't rotate. This makes them fast in the water but basic belly crawlers on terra firma.

Sea lions, on the other hand, are able to "walk" on land by rotating their hind flippers forward and underneath their big bodies. This is why they are more likely to be employed in aquaria and marine shows.

Finally, seals are less social than their sea-lion cousins. They spend more time in the water than sea lions do and often lead solitary lives in the wild, coming ashore together only once a year to meet and mate.

Sea lions congregate in gregarious groups called herds or rafts that can reach upwards of 1,500 individuals. It's common for scores of them to haul out together and loll about in the sand, comprising an amorphous pile in the noonday sun.

Monterey Bay Sunrise

Sunrise - Monterey County  2025

Before I return to Marin I like to pay a morning visit down to the bay near the Coast Guard Station. This time the view over the bay was scenic as always, but not quite so serene. What noise! The beach that I was used to walking on had been taken over by a large colony of sea lions! Photo tomorrow.

Stairs / Pepper Tree

Stairs - Monterey County  2025

Pepper Tree - Monterey County  2025

Stairs were inside one of the little museums scattered around the plaza area. 

Pepper tree has been pictured on the blog before.

Nikon Z7II photos.

Hydrangeas / Photos

Hydrangeas - Monterey County  2025

Photos, Door - Monterey County  2025

Top photo taken with an iPhone 13 Pro Max. Bottom one with a Nikon Z7II.

Broom, Stairs / Doorway

Broom, Stairs - Monterey County  2025

Doorway - Monterey County  2025

Morley Baer-type photos. Taken with a Nikon Z7II.

African Lilies

African Lilies - Monterey County  2025

Top photo taken with the iPhone, which also provided the ID. Bottom one with the Nikon.

Wooden Gate / Door with Windows

Wooden Gate - Monterey County  2025

Door with Windows - Monterey County  2025

After returning from the Big Sur area I took a short rest at the motel, then drove down to the Monterey Plaza area for some photos with the Nikon Z7II and a 24-200mm zoom lens.

Monday (More) Pelican Blogging

Pelican Taking Off - Point Lobos  2025

Three Pelicans - Point Lobos  2025

I've actually never seen pelicans in these quantities before! Quite interesting.

I was carrying a Nikon Z7II with a 24-200mm zoom lens, and in my daypack an Olympus E-M1II with a 75-300mm zoom lens. I used the greater reach of the Olympus lens for these photos.

Pelicans on Rock - Point Lobos  2025

Coastal Mountains

Coastal Mountains - Monterey County  2025

Coastal Mountains, Clouds - Monterey County  2025

As I drove south I was noticing - not for the first time - the coastal mountains just east of highway one.

"Monterey County features several distinct coastal mountain ranges, primarily the Santa Lucia Range, known for the dramatic, rugged Big Sur coastline where the mountains meet the Pacific Ocean." (Google AI).

I backpacked here quite a long time ago - maybe in the 1980s, but nothing since then. 

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park - 2

Redwoods (Pfeiffer Big Sur) - Monterey County  2025

Tree Trunks, Boulder (Pfeiffer Big Sur) - Monterey County  2025

I visited this park last year, but in winter. Then I was able to wander through vacant campgrounds, but this time there was lots of camping activity. I made it past numerous tents for these photos, then hiked back to the car. 

Yup, pretty warm!

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park - 1

Oaks (Pfeiffer Big Sur) - Monterey County  2025

Big Sur River (Pfeiffer Big Sur) - Monterey County  2025

My entrance fee for Point Lobos also covered the fee for Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. I've been there before, but it was still early, so I drove down the coast to the Big Sur area.

Most of the parking lots were empty, in sharp contrast to Point Lobos. Also, kind of getting a little warmish.

Point Lobos Viewpoint

Carmel Bay View - Point Lobos  2025

Did I say that photo conditions weren't that favorable? Huh. This one turned out OK. Taken with a Nikon Z7II.

After this shot I decided to exit the park, as it was starting to get crowded. As I left I was kind of amazed that by 9:45 the park was closed: all parking lots were full. (Yes, this was in August, but on a weekday and after area schools were back in session.)

Park Closed to Vehicles - Point Lobos  2025

Cypresses

Cypresses - Point Lobos  2025

Cypresses - Point Lobos  2025

Photo conditions weren't all that great. Very hazy, nothing clear cut. Since I had gotten there early I could get some photos with the rising sun playing a part.

Coffee - then Point Lobos

Carmel Valley Coffee - Monterey County  2025

My second visit of the year! Tasty as always!

I had scheduled my morning coffee visit to allow enough time to get to Point Lobos before the 8 AM opening. When I arrived I was surprised to find that I was maybe the 10th car in line, with more cars joining the line in back of me.

Monday Pelican Blogging

Pelicans - Point Lobos  2025

Cypress trunks in the background . . . for context see photo below.

There were lots of pelicans! Some were coming around the far cliff, straightening out, then coming towards me (above) and passing overhead.

Cypresses, Cliffs, Ocean - Point Lobos  2025

Asilomar State Beach

California Buckwheat - Monterey County  2025

After taking some cemetery photos, Mike drove along the coast, parking at a pull out and going for a little walk. This was at Asilomar State Beach . . . nice firm trails with pretty ocean views. (Plant ID using Apple iPhone.)

Alas, the edge of the trail wasn't so firm: Mike stepped onto the edge and tumbled over! Yikes! Quickly got up, looked around to see if anyone had noticed. They hadn't. Whew.

Mike's Tumble Spot - Monterey County  2025

Cemetery (Pacific Grove)

Cemetery (Pacific Grove) - Monterey County  2025

Cemetery (Pacific Grove) - Monterey County  2025

El Carmelo Cemetery. More information in this 2023 post.

Top photo taken with an iPhone 13 Pro Max, next one with a Sony RX100(7).

Carmel Mission - 4

Altar (Carmel Mission) - Monterey County  2025

Baby Jesus, Apparition (Carmel Mission) - Monterey County  2025

Religious stuff, shot with an iPhone 13 Pro Max. 

It was fun wandering around the mission grounds! I'd like to view them again when it's foggy or overcast.

Carmel Mission - 3

Red Valerian (Carmel Mission) - Monterey County  2025

Plants, Wall, Tiles (Carmel Mission) - Monterey County  2025

During this mission visit I was using an iPhone 13 Pro Max and, for these photos, a Sony RX100(7).