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ゾウアザラシ / Elephant Seal in Año Nuevo

Short trip, Nature observation, Birds

On the outer coast of the San Francisco Bay Area, about a 40-minute drive south of Half Moon Bay, there is a small peninsula called Año Nuevo. The tip of this peninsula and Año Nuevo Island across from it serve as a breeding ground for elephant seals, where large colonies can be seen. The season lasts from December to the end of March, and during this time, access is only allowed through guided tours by reservation. Wanting to explore freely first, I visited Año Nuevo on the last day of the self-guided tour season.

Brown Pelicans resting on the cliffs.

Reaching the tip of Año Nuevo requires a 40-minute walk along a trail, including sandy terrain. Visitors must first obtain a permit from the visitor center.

Año Nuevo Island, visible from the tip, is teeming with birds and seals.
Upon arriving at the observation point, I was lucky to spot one right in front of me. Elephant seals are known for their large, swollen noses, but this one appears to be a juvenile.
You’ve got a runny nose!
It seems that only young seals are gathered here, as I couldn’t spot any adults with the characteristic large noses.
They’re all peacefully resting.
Some prefer solitude, sleeping off to the side, away from the group.
As the sun set and I headed back to the visitor center, a Northern Harrier suddenly glided into view.

Next time, I’d like to visit during the season when adult elephant seals are present.

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