A Change?

Downtown San Diego from Cabrillo National Monument

The picture above perhaps seem to be the odd picture out if you search all of the pictures in my posts. This shows civilization, unlike most of my photos which focus mostly on the richness and diversity of nature. This picture was taken at east side of Point Loma Peninsula in Cabrillo National Monument. In the same park, but just at the west side of the peninsula, the scenery is totally different.

Tidepool Area at Cabrillo National Monument

It is now the world of rocks and the ocean, with civilization totally hidden by the coastal hill.

Small Sea Cave Overlooking the Ocean at Cabrillo National Monument

Walking here is just as fun as hiking in the trails. I love checking the weird cliffs of sedimentary rocks which have very distinct layers.

Carved Sedimentary Rocks

The distinct layers and the intricate carving of the rocks provides a glimpse to the power of the ocean.

Sculpted Rocky Cliff

Wildlife here is different than when I walk in the trail. Here, at low tide, I can view an ocean intertidal zone ecosystem up close. Walking through the algae coated rocks which really are very slippery that extra precaution is needed, I would see small fishes trapped in the rocky pools.

Small Fishes and Anemone

And these poor creatures are feasted by the birds. Do you wonder sometimes why at low tide there are just so many birds on shore? They don't really have to dive down anymore to fish.

Egret Looking For Something To Feed On

Aside from small fishes trapped in the rocky pool, there are also a lot of mussels, barnacles, small crabs, anemone, shells, snails, starfish, and many other small invertebrates.

Resting on the North end of this rocky zone are usually the cormorants and the California Brown Pelicans.

California Brown Pelican

Climbing up the cliff and going up the hill, one faces San Diego's civilization again.

Downtown San Diego from Cabrillo National Monument

North of the park, is the Shelter Island, which is not really an island :) . Shelter Island is still part of the Point Loma Peninsula.

Downtown San Diego from Shelter Island

Now, this is really a totally different scenery from the rocky intertidal zone in Cabrillo National Monument. Yet, they are just close to each other in the same peninsula. Uphill on Shelter Island is some spot to take a picture of San Diego with the yachts parked in the Shelter Island Harbor.

Downtown San Diego from Shelter Island ( Lucinda St)

Now, this is what you call the glare of the city. But thankfully, we have many hide-aways from this civilization, we just have to go down a cliff, or hike a canyon, or round a hill or climb a mountain, and it feels like being transported to a different world. So a change it may be from my usual posts, but this is the city where I live.

♥♥