Although this marina is not the most exciting place I have ever been, there are still a bunch of things that help me pass the time. The most exciting is definitely the wildlife. You cannot walk the docks for more than a minute without seeing some wild animals.
The Birds
Scanning the water, I could see multiple places where minnows were fleeing along the surface. Following these disturbances, a cormorant would surface, often with one or two wriggling fish.
A swimming cormorant
Unfortunately for the cormorants, they are not alone in the struggle to catch the minnows. Egrets, pelicans, and kingfishers join in the hunt for the little fish. Dozens of egrets pepper the marina, standing on dock lines watching the water for a vulnerable fish. Occasionally, one will shoot out its long neck to snatch up a minnow.
A cormorant and a pair of egrets hanging out on a dock line
An egret fishing
The pelicans, on the other hand, are huge! They, unlike kingfishers, search for and dive at minnows. After the huge splash that marks a dive, the pelicans drain their necks of water before gulping down their catches. Meanwhile, the colorful kingfisher waits patiently on the sides of boats. He watches the water but rarely dives. I have not yet seen a kingfisher go after or catch a fish. Added to the assortment are the gulls, vultures, hawks, terns, and other unidentified birds that pass through.
A pelican struts around the dock
A school of minnows
A tern flying by
Mammalian Presence
On top of the many birds, there a few very noticeable marina inhabitants by the name of Lobo Marino de un Pelo, or Southern Sea Lion. Day and night, you hear the Sea Lions snorfulling along. Do not look up snorfulling in the dictionary because it is not there, but snorfulling perfectly describes the sea lion's noise. When they surface for air, they make this very peculiar snorfulling noise.
Here is a group, snorfulling along
The marina holds about ten females and two males. Here is a quick description of the males: big, lazy, grumpy and loud. When I say big, I mean 600 pounds of muscle and fat, and when I say lazy, I mean they lounge about all day. By using the words 'grumpy and loud' I intend for you to picture the huge sea lions roaring at anyone in sight. To sum it up, they are grumpy sea lions that lounge about and expect no disturbances.
The big guys relax here...
...and there
A pile of curious sea lions
I come slightly too close and the big guy gets up and ready
The females engage in activities like Queen of the Buoy, Speed Swimming, and Startling Porter. A large orange buoy seems to be the ideal lounging spot. Often times, a sea lion will be quietly resting on the buoy when another launches up onto it. The buoy tilts wildly, sending one or both of them into the water. Some sea lions are so persistent that a struggle for the buoy may last five or more minutes.
The sea lion waits nervously for her rival to attack
Having won, she relaxes
Speed Swimming is as simple as two females racing through the marina.
Into the water comes the next racer
It is my opinion that the sea lions play a sport where they see who can scare a person the most. Sudden splashes, roars, and random lunges are just a few of their tactics. I have nearly fallen into the water, I have been so startled. Apparently, I am an ideal target to startle. - Porter
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