Molting

Ella was difficult to find this morning, but I located her rotund form close to the bluff. She's out of the fray of newborns and their mothers here. She's molting the blackcoat she was born with, for her first mature coat.

She'll have countershading, dark on her back and light on her underside. It's an ocean camouflage that will help her blend in with the dark depths when predators above look down at her, or the light sky when those below her look up.

Between a high tide and high surf warning, the beach was inundated this morning. The seals were flustered, trying to get away from the waves, but not very effective in doing anything about it.

More rain is expected tonight. The rain isn't really a problem, but it does pool on the beach under the culvert pipes that drain from the ranch.

Some found dry land and rest, even in difficult times.