NBWW: Elephant Seals @ Point Reyes 2/18/01

It was an overcast, misty morning in Petaluma at the “meeting place”. We were wondering how it would be at Chimney Rock. After a scenic, serpentine journey to Pt. Reyes, we ventured out into the receding mist and down to the seal overlook. There were about 20-30 elephant seals in plain view, lounging like slugs on their bed of beach.

Occasionally they would make noise or cool themselves off by flipping sand on their backs. The dominant male was surrounded by his harem of honeys while the younger males, a distance away, fought amongst themselves with short violent head slaps. Tiring quickly, they would stop and lay down within a few feet of each other...