The Elephant Seals at Ano Nuevo State Park

Sorry if the formatting is messed up on this post. I can't seem to get the photos situated properly.

On February 26, Liam and I went down to Ano Nuevo State Park, which is south of Half Moon Bay, where there is a large group of elephant seals that mate and birth at this time of year. The day we were there, the census was more than 2000 elephant seals. While the rest of us marveled at this population, Liam took pix of his own creation. I will try to get those off his camera shortly. 

The next photo shows one of these beasts. This is a male seal, lounging on what the rangers call "Losers' Beach" because its where the male seals who were unsuccessful in creating a harem go. This dude was easily 12 feet long, and we could get within 25 feet of him. After I took this picture, he raised his head and chest and bellowed, then charged at another male, who tried to find safety with our tour group. We all had to scramble up a sand dune. This gents can travel very fast and will steamroll whatever's in their path. We saw a few dead seal pups whom the docent thought had probably been trampled.

Here's Liam with our docent Laura, discussing the various bones that had been found on the beach.

And finally, here's another male who was sliding down a sand dune, although it was unclear how he ever fought gravity and inertia to get up that hill. 

Here's the most interesting thing I learned about elephant seals. The females come to the beach to give birth, and 24 days later, they are impregnated again. However, actual gestation of the embryo does not begin for about 2-3 months. It just hangs out until she's had a chance to feed and bulk up again. Gestation lasts 9 months, although she carries the embryo for a few months before it begins. Wierd, huh?