March 5

Last week, near the end of our California winter retreat, Caroline and I hiked at the 10-acre, Pelican Cove Park on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The mid-day weather was sunny with a temperature of 58 degrees and a gentle westerly sea breeze. Leaving the parking area, we headed south to the trailhead and paused to gaze down at scenic Pelican Cove. Next, while descending the steep bluff, I spotted a Brown Pelican and some Double-Crested Cormorants perched on a rock formation just offshore. Reaching the rocky beach, I noticed a large strip of seaweed along the water’s edge. Referred to as “wrack”, this organic material is a mixture of marine and salt marsh plants deposited on the beach by high tides. It supports numerous species of invertebrates, including these tiny Kelp Flies feeding in a mat of Kelp. The wrack is also a source of food for several kinds of shore birds including this Juvenile Spotted Sandpiper I observed hopped among the rocks. Continuing on a path south along the base of the bluff, I spotted some colorful blossoms including: Flowering Ice Plant, Buckwheat and Sea Rocket. Nearby, I could barely make out a Rock Wren, well camouflaged against the rock face. Off shore, the surf pounding against the rocks reminded me how thousands of years of wind and water have shaped this coastline. After turning around to retrace my steps, I glanced skyward to watch some soaring Brown Pelicans. A feeding Pelican can spot a fish from high in the air and dive headfirst into the ocean, tucking and twisting to the left to protect its trachea and esophagus from the impact. As it plunges into the water, its throat pouch expands to trap the fish, filling with up to 2.6 gallons of water. Occasionally, it feeds by sitting on the surface and seizing prey with its bill. Finally, I ascended the steep trail and returned to the car for our trip back to Redondo Beach.

Vast waters

Mighty blue

East bound

Bid adieu

Setting sun

Scenic shore

Gulls hover

Breakers roar

Images stored

Thoughts adhere

Pacific Ocean

Back next year

D. DeGraaf