In early January, California got hit with a series of storms. With no dive lined up on a Saturday morning I needed an “ocean fix” so I drove to the beach at Casa Cove in La Jolla to check out the colony of harbor seals that inhabits the controversial area known as the Children’s Pool. Their pupping season begins in mid-December, and I wanted to see if I might be able to see and photograph a newborn pup or two.
I knew I would have to get lucky to get my desired photograph because the beach is roped off during the pupping season. But either way, I always enjoy watching harbor seals do what they do even if I have to keep my distance. So armed with a camera and telephoto lens I took up a position on the staircase above the beach.
I soon realized the beach was covered with the bodies of red crabs (aka tuna crabs). Thousands upon thousands of them had washed ashore, and their presence attracted dozens of opportunistic sea gulls that came to gorge themselves on the remains of the crustaceans.