A Very Big Rock

One of the sites I found, when researching things to do in Morro Bay, mentioned that you'd have to go out of your way not to see sea otters. [True, that.] This one was napping peacefully near the the shoreline, oblivious to curious human admirers.

As we walked toward the big rock, we passed a fluffed-out Great Blue Heron at the water's edge.

Having only seen Morro Rock from a distance, sticking out into the bay, I'd assumed it was surrounded by water. [Wrong.]

A couple of guys were seated comfortably near a large spotting scope trained on the rock. “What have we here?” I asked. “The daddy,” they replied. (A Peregrine Falcon.) My first close look at one (in the wild)! After they described the rock features nearby, I was also able to find the bird with my binoculars (a teeny-tiny image, at such a distance). Birds were flying in all directions—gulls, mostly; but I also spotted a Turkey Vulture with a few awkward vestiges of juvenile plumage.

People. Proofread. Is that too much to ask?

We followed our noses west, along the south side of the rock, until we stumbled through a field of cairns and could go no farther—the Pacific shoreline was out of reach.

We admired the rock from another angle over lunch. The marine layer drifted in and out, wisps sometimes capping the rock, sometimes opening to a bit of blue sky.

Learning that Morro Rock is a volcanic plug begged the question: What happened to the rest of the volcano? Erosion, sure, but where did all that material go? Of course, in another 23 million years, none of this will be here, either.

We decided to explore the estuary (more birds!), following the Marina Peninsula Loop trail. Another explorer confirmed that the green-legged bird I'd seen was a Green Heron (evidently a juvenile). Egrets and Long-billed Curlews were feeding in the mud flats and marshes.

On the trail, a Western Fence Lizard—first time I've seen one with iridescent blue spots (confirming, a male).

To the east, we had a view of dry rolling hills and rugged peaks. A satisfying day exploring new territory, filled with birds, marine mammals, lizards, unusual geologic formations, fog, and sunshine!