2011/11/point-lobos

Looking south from Weston Beach in the morning.Looking southeast from Weston Beach in the morning.These cypresses, which formerly extended over a much wider range, withdrew to these fog-shrouded headlands as the climate changed with the close of the Pleistocene epoch 15,000 years ago. The trees mirror the forces of nature and time; they survive the salt spray and wind, with their roots seeking nourishment in cracks and crevices.Sea otters eat and sleep in this position and seldom come ashore.In fact, the gray stringy thing which hangs from the tree is not a Halloween decoration; it is called Lace Lichen and grows where the climate is cool and humid and where there is little sun. Lace Lichen does not harm the trees; it is found on the branches that have already died from lack of sunlight. A lichen is combination of a fungus and a green alga. Deer like to eat this lichen, and birds carry it off for nesting materials.As seen from Cannery PointCastilleja latifoliaCastilleja latifoliaAs seen from Point Lobos.Slatebacked western gulls.A smile and a wink for the tourists.Western gull.Western gulls.Harbor Seals are smaller than sea lions and look like swollen cigars. Unlike sea lions, their ears are not visible, and the short rear flippers, which point away from the body, are unsuited for moving about on land. They are usually silent, and love to bask on rocks just above the water.With the Sea Lion Point in the background.Those little spots at the top of the cliff are California Sea Lions.It is also the earlier Spanish name of Point Lobos, which translates to A.M. Allan and his wife were the owners of Point Lobos whose foresight and decades-long work led to its protection and in 1933 it became part of the new state park system.The orange, velvety stuff on the tree is green algae. Its orange color comes from carotene, a pigment which also occurs in carrots. The plant does not harm the trees.The smart black-and-white head makes them easy to identify. They hop across the ground and through low foliage in brushy habitats. Alaskan white-crowned sparrows migrate about 2,600 miles to winter in Southern California.Black-tailed Mule DeersBlack-tailed Mule DeerBlack-tailed Mule DeerBlack-tailed Mule DeerBlack-tailed Mule DeersBlack-tailed Mule DeerThey are pretty noisy. Adult males can attain a length over 8 feet and weigh up to 800 pounds.