So where is Elkhorn Slough? Perhaps this picture of the electrical generating plant at Moss Landing between Watsonville and Castroville will help you remember.
What a great day for a safari. We layered on the clothing just in case was too cool but you can tell we had to remove a layer as we got in the boat. So here is Gloria, Karen, Julie and Ray.
And here is Norm helping Edie get her jacket off
Cormorants on the dock at Moss Landing Harbor
This area is not just for boaters but there are some serious photographers who come here as well.
Much like Pier 39 in San Francisco, some California Sea Lions hang out here.
Here is a lone cormorant on a piling. When these birds get in the water, about all you can see is their necks sticking out like periscopes.
A pair of flying cormorants. They have weirdly crooked necks.
Sea otters always look so playful; floating on their backs with their feet out of the water. It warms up their extremities. Notice the red tag on his hind flippers. He has been marked for tracking purposes.
A bunch of terns on the poles of a now-defunct salt evaporation area
This tern is getting ready for flight
No, this is not a sea lion. It's a harbor seal (short front flippers)
A seal pup with his mother.
Like they were posing for us.
Notice his white whiskers
White pelicans
Sand pipers
Canada goose
I don't know what the next two birds are (couldn't remember everything we saw that day).
Avocets. Beautiful colors
Why are we smiling so broadly.
After a fun day meandering around in the slough, we went to lunch at the Fish Market in Moss Landing.
We asked about renting kayaks for a more personal tour. OK going out in the morning but be careful. The on-shore wind picks up later in the day making is tough to paddle back to the harbor. Maybe taking an electric trolling motor along would help on the return trip.
Thank you Ray and Gloria for planning this great trip with good friends.
