Jan 06 2009
On Pelicans, Sea Lions and Seals @ Winter
La Jolla Cove
We went last weekend to La Jolla Cove, hoping to photograph the breeding color of the pelicans which can be observed at winter. We usually watch for the pelicans by the cliffs below La Jolla Coast Walk, or below the Sunny Jim Cave entrance.
However, when we got to the cliff, there were not a lot of pelicans 
. I mean, there were several pelicans on the bluffs, but not a lot of them showing off their red bill pouch. I did not get lucky enough to take one picture of a pelican with the red bill pouch or with their breeding colors. It seemed they did not cooperate with me in showing off their gular pouch :).
California Brown Pelican
Winter is the breeding season of the brown pelicans, and during this time, their bill pouch turn a bright red. Since I did not feel lucky at all photographing the pelicans that day, I instead took some pictures of the noisy sea lions below the bluffs.
Sea Lions
The most common marine mammals in California Coast are sea lions and harbor seals.
Harbor Seals
They are both pinniped with fur, flippers and with fat bodies. However, two of the very obvious differences between the two are the ear flaps and the noise. The sea lions have ear flaps while harbor seals don’t have. When harbor seals rest quietly on shore, the sea lions can be very noisy, they utter a dog-like bark 
. Also, seals have smaller front flippes compared to sea lions, so when seals walk, they flop around their bellies When sea lions can be assertive around humans compared to seals which are more timid. Also, if sea lions have mostly brown coat, the seals have spotted coats.
And at winter, is the time for sea lions, seals and pelicans to breed. It is the best time to watch their unusual behavior and color. It is also the time where most of them are on shore.
And when sea lions mate, I pity the female, looks like they are hurting them, biting them into submission ( see picture).
