Several members of the BSSC went back to the Piedras Blancas Light Station from April 26-27 to continue helping with the restoration work, and to see some whales! We were also camping this time because whale scientists were staying in the buildings at the Light Station. We had to set up our tents in the wind, which made the process extra challenging, but we managed to get all of our tents set up with time to see some seals and otters on the way to the lighthouse. There was a pair of otters swimming together and playing together in the waves near the shore, and another two farther off the pier. We also spotted a Common Loon and an Eared Grebe on the water. Next we stopped at the beach to see the elephant seals. All the adult male seals are out at sea, so the beach is covered with young seals (called wieners) and adult females that were molting. It was as usual a noisy bunch which lots of sand throwing and copious amounts of blubber.
Once we were at the lighthouse there we even more sea otters! A group of around seven were floating around close to the lighthouse with kelp wrapped around them. We also saw a couple gray whales swim past the lighthouse. After a tour of the lighthouse the brave among us made the journey up to the windy top. After the spiral staircase there is a ladder the very windy top of the lighthouse.
After some delicious food at the Main Street Grill in Cambria, we enjoyed a campfire and looked at the stars before going to sleep.
The next day Ivy made us some tasty pancakes before we headed out to pull some invasive plants. We were in an area that was mostly restored but there were some sneaky mustard plants and a couple other invasive species in patches. We dug up piles of mustard and also admired the wildflowers. After our work was done we rewarded ourselves with some delicious food from Sebastian's in San Simeon before some of us went to enjoy the pier and others headed home.
Once we were at the lighthouse there we even more sea otters! A group of around seven were floating around close to the lighthouse with kelp wrapped around them. We also saw a couple gray whales swim past the lighthouse. After a tour of the lighthouse the brave among us made the journey up to the windy top. After the spiral staircase there is a ladder the very windy top of the lighthouse.
After some delicious food at the Main Street Grill in Cambria, we enjoyed a campfire and looked at the stars before going to sleep.
The next day Ivy made us some tasty pancakes before we headed out to pull some invasive plants. We were in an area that was mostly restored but there were some sneaky mustard plants and a couple other invasive species in patches. We dug up piles of mustard and also admired the wildflowers. After our work was done we rewarded ourselves with some delicious food from Sebastian's in San Simeon before some of us went to enjoy the pier and others headed home.