Weaner spring days

Nearly all the mothers are gone, returned to the ocean to forage for food and gain some weight. The fertilized egg each mother carries won't start developing until she returns to the beach in May. That gives her a chance to eat and put on some healthy blubber before the embryo begins to require nutrition.

Most of these weaners have molted their wavy black newborn coats and are glowing silvery gray and brown. A couple of them are still peeling off that old coat.

Weaned pups have climbed close to the boardwalk. There's extra fencing there to keep them off, since some of them did get up on the boardwalk last year. Nice close viewing for visitors, though!

The beach seemed a bit empty, until I walked north and looked back to see dozens piled up in the cove.

Quite a few adult males are still on the beach, but they are thin. You can see this  one's hip bones jutting out. One of the researchers said that he thinks the males stay on the beach for a couple of weeks after the mating season just to get some real rest. They sure looked peaceful.

Blind in one eye

It's no disability for this adult male. His eye appears blind, but he was enthusiastically pursuing females on the beach. He held his position in the dominance hierarchy, below some but above others.

He comes up the beach.

Using his good eye to check her out.

That eye definitely is occluded, probably the result of an injury.

He was cautious around the dominant male, but didn't let it stop him.

The web of life

This beautiful chart of Key Players in the Food Web makes clear how each kind of marine life interacts with the others.

It was posted in one of the Forums that accompany this MOOC I'm taking. Highly recommended.

Marine Megafauna

I started this MOOC on Marine Megafauna this week. It started two weeks ago, so I was behind, but I've caught up now. I love it!

Students have signed up from around the world, so the Forums to discuss the classwork are fascinating. People post amazing photos from around the world, too.

Of course, at the start, Elephant Seals seemed like they would be a major subject. After all, what's more Mega than that? But the course shows how amazing ocean life is -- from sea turtles to penguins of all kinds -- including the bluish Fairy Penguins of Australia and New Zealand, who live in burrows under the ground. Mola mola, up to two tons. How cool is that!

This picture is from Australian Animal Learning Zone.

The extinct Megalodon shark as well as modern sharks. This week, it's the Ocean Sunfish,

I've having a great time with it. Even if Elephant Seals aren't the main subject.

This handsome fellow announces himself to the beach.

Returning to the sea

Many of the pups are now weaned. most of them stay close to the edge of the bluff, out of harm's way. Mostly they sleep. A few go to the water's edge or mingle with other mothers and pups, stealing milk as they can.

 Mating is frequent now,k with mothers coming into estrus as lactation winds down.

This female was besieged by four males as she tried to get to the water. This big male took notice and the others retreated. He stayed with her for half an hour or so, then she was able to leave quietly, without having to defend herself from multiple males.

Web Cam

The Friends of the Elephant Seals Webcam is a great way to check in on the seals. Right now, there are lots of mothers and pups to watch.

 Mating is the big event of the day. This bull lets everyone know he's in charge.

 Many pups have already been weaned. Lots of fat weaners this year.

Th4ese two mothers had a long argument as to whose pup was whose and where they belonged. They eventually settled down.

Busy at the beach

The beach is about as full as it can get. Both South

And north. No space going to waste! Some pups have already been weaned, such as the two  at the lower right.

So drama is constant. This new pup was too close to the water's edge and his mother was doing her best to move him along. He kept following her, and it took her a while to head up to dry land so he would follow her.

 Males are finding females to mate with.

All in a day at the beach.