Items18The creator’s order
  1. 1Sea otterSea otterSouthern sea otters are the California subspecies. At Elkhorn Slough near Moss Landing, use binoculars from shore to look for dark heads in the channel or animals floating on their backs. An otter can bring a hard-shelled meal to the surface and open it against a stone.0
  2. 2Harbor sealHarbor sealA harbor seal resting at Elkhorn Slough may look like a smooth, spotted lump until it turns its head. Look for a rounded head and no visible ear flap. A sea lion has a visible ear flap and can prop itself up on longer front flippers. In spring, give seal mothers and pups especially generous room.0
  3. 3California sea lionCalifornia sea lionListen for barks near the harbor breakwater in Monterey, where sea lions haul out together. They can be seen year-round around the bay, with more adults returning from breeding grounds in fall. A visible ear flap and long front flippers help separate one from a harbor seal. The flippers also let…0
  4. 4Northern Elephant SealNorthern Elephant SealStart with the viewing areas at Piedras Blancas or Año Nuevo. Winter brings breeding adults and pups to shore, and seals also return at other times of year to molt. Adult males have a large, drooping nose. Females and young animals lack that feature, so look at the different sizes together on the…0
  5. 5Gray whaleGray whaleWatch for a blow from a Monterey Bay headland during the winter migration south. The return journey runs through spring, when mothers and calves can travel close to shore. Look for a mottled gray back with a low ridge and a series of bumps in place of a tall dorsal fin.0
  6. 6Humpback whaleHumpback whaleIn Monterey Bay, humpbacks feed from spring well into fall. From shore, scan for blows or groups of seabirds working over the same small patch of water. Watch for the whale to lift its tail before a dive. If you get a good look through binoculars, long flippers and a knobby head are other clues.0
  7. 7Blue whaleBlue whaleBlue whales can feed on krill in the offshore waters of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in summer. Their enormous length is usually easier to imagine than to take in during one surfacing. Look for a tall blow, then a long roll of blue-gray back before the small dorsal fin appears.0
  8. 8Common bottlenose dolphinCommon bottlenose dolphinScan beyond the breakers along the Southern California coast. Coastal bottlenose dolphins can travel quite near shore, with a curved dorsal fin breaking the surface. If you get a look at the head, a short, thick beak distinguishes the shape from the finer snout of a common dolphin.0
  9. 9Brown pelicanBrown pelicanFrom a pier or bluff, you may see brown pelicans travel in single file just above the waves. When they find fish, they can fold their wings and plunge headfirst. The large bill and throat pouch confirm the identification even when a juvenile lacks the contrasting head colors of an adult.0
  10. 10Black oystercatcherBlack oystercatcherOn a rocky central California shore, look for a dark bird with a long, bright orange-red bill near the waterline. Its loud, piping calls carry above wave noise. Watch from farther back as the bird works the rocks for mussels or other shellfish.0