An oval shaped blue soft thumb sized jellyfish with round concentric circles on top.

What Are Those Blue Blobs Washing Up On SoCal Beaches?

By Karissa Duran, Scripps Institute of OceanographyMay 19, 2023 What are these blue jellyfish-like creatures? These creatures are called Velella velella. They have several different nicknames including “by-the-wind-sailors” and “little sails” as a reference to their sail-like, chitinous structure that sticks up above the water.     Why are they washing up? They wash up on shore due to a combination of shoreward wind and current patterns. … Continue reading What Are Those Blue Blobs Washing Up On SoCal Beaches?

A sign at the entrance to Cabrillo National Monument. The ocean is in the background.

What’s in the Tidepools? – April 2024

(NPS Photo/P. Geisler) April brought several other happenings at the park beside the tidepools. The new Oceanside Trail opened to the public. A group of volunteers and staff had a rare opportunity to visit the new Point Loma Lighthouse. We had the first Monumental Conference along with participating in the City Nature Challenge. We have images of an Osprey pulling a fish out of the … Continue reading What’s in the Tidepools? – April 2024

The picture shows two seals on a rocky outcrop by the sea. The water is a vibrant turquoise and is gently lapping against the rocks. The seal in the foreground is lying down, facing the camera, and appears to be resting or sunbathing. The other seal is behind it and seems to be in the process of moving, possibly about to enter the water. The rocks are brown and rugged, with some wet patches indicating the tide level. The sun is shining, creating a sparkling effect on the water's surface.

What’s in the Tidepools? – March 2024

(NPS Photo/P. Geisler) Happy Spring! As the main tidepool season starts winding down, the Spring flowers start to bloom. You can also see some very cool photos that Pauline took of two Moray Eels near the tidepool entrance. There is a video as well on the Tidepools Videos page. She also captured a video of an Osprey catching a fish from the tidepools. Here is … Continue reading What’s in the Tidepools? – March 2024