Weekend Wanderings (5): La Jolla and Torrey Pines- Del Mar Trail

Time flies so fast, I can't believe it has been about a month since I last shared our weekend wanderings here, which was at the San Diego Zoo on the weekend of February 8th. Thankfully, I saved all our weekend wanderings in one folder, with each weekend in sub-folders, so that it is easy for me to reminisce the simple joys we had from our weekend wanderings.

La Jolla, Torrey Pines-Del Mar Trail

For this weekend wanderings, let me go back to March 15, Saturday. It's time to check for spring wildflowers around San Diego.

We wandered at La Jolla first, before proceeding to Torrey Pines for Torrey Pines-Del Mar hike.

We started our Satur-date from La Jolla Coast Walk. There were minimal spring wildflowers at the Coast Walk on that day, but there were signs they will bloom in maybe a few weeks. But the bloom won't be as great as the previous years, because of the extreme drought we had last year, the worst drought in over 100 years.

LOOKING AT TORREY PINES FROM LA JOLLA COAST WALK

From La Jolla Coast Walk trail, we continued South to La Jolla Cove.

ON TOP OF LA JOLLA CAVES ( can you find me? )

At La Jolla Cove, we spent some time enjoying watching the breeding cormorants plumage and sea lions from above the bluffs.

DOUBLE CRESTED CORMORANT IN BREEDING PLUMAGE

SEA LIONS AND MEN

 From above the bluffs, the squirrel were getting some attention too. :) Just too many wildlife to enjoy at La Jolla Cove, from pelicans, to cormorants, to harbor seals, to sea lions to squirrels. It is also very enjoyable to watch people, especially little kids, having so much fun.

SQUIRREL

 From La Jolla Cove, we turned around and went back to La Jolla Coast Walk. From Coast walk, we drove to Torrey Pines State Beach North Parking lot. it was time to check out the spring wildflowers at Torrey Pines-Del Mar trail by the rail tracks.

At the North Torrey Pines parking lot, we were greeted by the blooming pink manzanitas.

Manzanitas and Los Penasquitos Marsh Lagoon @ Torrey Pines State Beach- North Parking lot

From there, we walked to Del Mar Beach but along the beach first ( we saved the wildflower above the bluffs for last, since we wanted to check out the cute tiny birds, or sanderlings too ). 

Marbled Murelets and Sanderlings @ North Torrey Pines State Beach

SANDERLINGS

SANDERLINGS IN FLIGHT

PELICANS AND WAVE

When we reached Del Mar Beach, that was the time we walked back to Torrey Pines via the trail above the bluffs for the wildflowers and pelicans in flight.

PELICANS AND DEL MAR BLUFFS

 Above the bluffs, we enjoyed watching pelicans in both directions. Some were flying from North to South, while others were flying from South to North. The pelicans in the picture above are North Bound since the picture is looking South towards Torrey Pines and La Jolla.

Aside from California brown pelicans, we were also greeted by ospreys and some spring wildflowers.

OSPREY

 The past winter has been our driest and warmest in over 100 years, that sadly, there are very little wildflowers above the bluffs. If you saw the carpeting wildflowers I shared from this trail from previous springs, you will probably be able to tell the big difference.

SPRING WILDFLOWERS, ( some coreopsis and CA sea lavender )

 Though the wildflowers this year may not be carpeting, and very little compared to the years past, nevertheless, it is still so much to be thankful to see blooms that were most probably nourished by evening and early morning coastal fogs.

CA SEA LAVENDER

That's me, photo taken by hubby :)

Hubby in the middle of CA lavender lined trail

 The blossoms attracted beautiful butterflies. There were a lot of them, but so hard to take them photos since they seem to not stop. They were busy fluttering in the sea breeze jumping from one flower to another.

Until the next weekend wanderings. :)

♥♥