Wet 'n' Wild

Today we braved the persistent wind and rain to see one of the strangest beasts on the planet: the Elephant Seal. They spend most of their lives at sea but come ashore at Ano Nuevo State Reserve, between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz, to give birth, mate and molt. 

Most of the females have already given birth and gone back to sea to find food, leaving their pups behind to learn how to swim and fish by themselves. Once on their own, the pups are called weaners. (Yep.) 

So, there wasn't much action on the beach - no fighting males or anything - but there was a lot of lolling about, and we can all appreciate that.

Unfortunately, the harsh elements made it impossible to get any good pictures, but I did find something just as fun on the Ano Nuevo Web site: click here to hear the vocalization of two males. It's unlike anything you've ever heard.