Moss Landing Sea Otters

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moss landing wildlife area, photography, postaday, sea otter

Sea Otters, seen mostly on the Pacific Coast from Japan to Alaska and California were almost driven to extinction as people hunted them for their fur. At one time last century their numbers had plunged from a million to several thousand. An international ban on hunting has halted the decline, and today it is estimated that there are 100,000 of them, with 3,000 on the coastline of California.

When we arrived at Moss Landing Wildlife Area, we were pleasantly surprised to see dozens of them swimming on their backs in Elkhorn Slough.

Sea Otters floating in Elkhorn Slough at Moss Landing Wildlife Area.

Sea Otters at Moss Landing Wildlife Area. The two in the middle were intertwined and twisted in the water as they swam.

Sea Otters at Moss Landing Wildlife Area.

Sea Otters at Moss Landing Wildlife Area.

Sea Otter at Moss Landing Wildlife Area. Note right leg crossed over left leg. Very relaxed.

Some climbed ashore to rest and sleep.

Sea Otther climbing on the beach.

Sea Otter turning back to look who was taking pictures.

Sea Otter resting or sleeping.

This one was definitely sleeping. It did not move for a long time until disturbed by noises.

Baby Sea Otter swimming along its mother.

Moss Landing Snowy Plover

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ice plant, moss landing state beach, photography, postaday, sea fig, snowy plover

Part of the beach at Moss Landing State Beach was roped off, with signs indicating that it was to protect the Snowy Plover, cousin of the Piping Plover found in New Jersey and the East Coast in general.

Snowy Plovers live and breed on the sand dunes covered with Sea Figs (also called Ice Plants) and they did not seem to mind the humans who fished, surfed, or strolled along the beach. Some even ran from the roped off sections down to the surf looking for food, then ran back. They trilled and whistled when they saw me, but they continued their activities as long as I kept a respectful distance.

In New Jersey the Holgate section of the Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is completely roped off for several months starting in April to allow Piping Plovers to breed there. No mere mortal is allowed to cross into that area. As a result I have never seen one, so I was thrilled to see Snowy Plovers at Moss Landing.

Snowy Plover at Moss Landing State Beach.

Two Snowy Plovers with banded legs at Moss Landing State Beach.

Snowy Plover with leg bands at Moss Landing State Beach.

Snowy Plover with banded legs at Moss Landing State Beach.

Snowy Plover without leg bands at Moss Landing State Beach. 

The Snowy Plover population was estimated at 2,900 in 2012 on the Pacific Coast. They are considered a threatened or endangered species, depending on the state.