My husband and kids are always making fun of me for always taking San Diego beach pictures. I can not help it! I see something, and I need to take a picture of it. It is that simple.
This philosophy has gotten me into trouble, but not anymore. You see, I have over 12 years of digital photos on three external hard drives and a few hundred on an Ipad. What to do with close to 100,000 pictures? Well, I have recently spent almost 4 hours every night going over EVERY image to find the perfect ones to share with the world.
I hope you enjoy it!
Colleen
#Please click on any photo to see a larger version. Also, you may hover over each image to see the scientific name of each species listed.
I have also included several links that will give you more information about where I took each photo.
California poppy-our State Flower, taken at the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Discovery CenterCoyote bushA flowering coyote bush was seen at the north channel of Famosa SloughBlooming coyote bush – San Dieguito LagoonFully bloomed coyote bush seen in an open field in Carlsbad (Nov)Dwarf coyote bush is an excellent ground cover-Agua Hedionda Lagoon Discovery Center Native GardenAlso known as the “Christmas berry tree,”-ToyonToyon berries-Loma Alta Creek TrailToyon bush on the Loma Alta Creek TrailShaw’s Agave- Seen at the San Elijo Lagoon Nature CenterBush Sunflower at the San Elijo LagoonSeaside daisy on the bluffs of La JollaLady Fingers at the Scripps Coastal ReserveSaltgrass-Trestles BeachPickleweed-Mission BaySaltgrass – Encinitas BluffsBeach evening primrose at South Ponto BeachCalifornia buckwheat on the Panhe Nature TrailCalifornia buckwheatLemonade berry bush on the Panhe Nature TrailSea rocket-Cakile maritima
The Torrey pine tree is the rarest in the United States.
Laural sumacDwarf coffeeberryDeerweed-California broom on Panhe Nature TrailDeerweed with flowers at Agua Hedionda Lagoon Hubbs TrailCastor bean plant on the Trestles Beach TrailBladderpod at Warm Water Jetty Beach, CarlsbadBlack sage at the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Discovery CenterWhite sageCalifornia sagebush at the Buena Vista LagoonCleveland sageCleveland sage at Oceanside HarborCoastal goldenbush on the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Discovery Center TrailCoastal goldenbushPrickly pear cactus on the Batiquitos Lagoon TrailSan Diego Honeysuckle at La Jolla Natural ParkTree tobacco plantBulrush (Cattail) during the summer at Trestles Beach next to the San Mateo River.Cattails (Bulrush) at the Loma Alta SloughSpiny rush at the Buena Vista Lagoon.Sticky monkey-flowerChalk dudleya -South Ponto BeachYerba mansa at the Famosa Slough in Ocean BeachAlkali heathAlkali heath at the Living Coast Discovery Center at San Diego BayCalifornia mugwort
Snowy egret- Oceanside PierA snowy egret at the Loma Alta Creek in OceansideMuscovy ducks-seen on the Loma Alta Creek TrailFlying black-necked stilts at Loma Alta CreekRoyal Terns- Swami’s State BeachCommon Raven-San Onofre State BeachTwo ravens finding some fresh water to drink falling off the bluffsGreat-tailed Grackle- San Onofre State BeachGreat egret on a cliff in EncinitasDo you see the Great egret?-Famosa Slough, Ocean BeachGreat blue heron outside of the Living Coast Discovery Center in San Diego BayA great blue heron at Mission BayHeerman’s Gull at Seaport Village -Downtown San DiegoA juvenile Heerman’s gull -America’s Cup Harbor (Oct)Heerman’s GullWestern Gull- Ocean Beach Pier
A great way to tell the difference between a Western gull and a California gull is to look at their legs. The Western gull’s legs are pink, while the California gull’s legs are yellow.
California gull over Moonlight BeachOne brown pelican and many California gulls at Trestles BeachDouble-crested cormorants, California brown pelican, and harbor seals off La JollaCalfornia brown pelican on Ocean Beach Pier
This California brown pelican above loves to hang out at the same spot on the Ocean Beach pier, day after day!
Calfornia brown pelicans at Oceanside Harbor
Brown pelicans love to hang out on the docks waiting for the fishing boats to come in.
Willet at San Onofre State BeachSanderlings watching the winter surf at Swami’s State BeachA whimbrel at Boneyard Beach, EncinitasMany whimbrels at Moonlight Beach, EncinitasA marbled godwit on the left and a willet on the right-Mission BayGreater Roadrunner at the Living Coast Discovery CenterWestern grebes- Aechmophorus occidentalis-America’s Cup Harbor, San Diego Bay
Mammals
San Diego Beach Pictures
Harbor seals at La Jolla Children’s Pool
One of the most exciting places where I like to take visitors from out of town is La Jolla! We are never disappointed when we get a chance to see these majestic creatures up close.
Children’s Pool in La Jolla– Harbor sealsBehind the Children’s Pool, La JollaCalifornia sea lions on Seal Rock- La JollaDo you notice the tag right above its right flipper? Stonesteps Beach, EncinitasCalifornia sea lions- Oceanside HarborCalifornia sea lions hanging out in the Oceanside HarborStellar sea lion at SeaWorld San Diego
Misc.
Pacific green turtle- SeaWorld San DiegoLiving Coast Discovery Center- Pacific green turtlePacific green sea turtleBat ray- Living Coast Discovery Center is located in the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge.Shovelnose guitarfish on Oceanside Pier
Wow, I’m not from the area so I thought I should check your gallery to see what San Diego is like, and I’m glad I did! Thanks to your pictures I’ve learnt a lot about San Diego’s landscape and flora and fauna. There are some things I didn’t even know existed. For instance, I have no idea what a Pacific sand dollar is… is it some kind of fish? I’m intrigued…
I am so happy that you enjoyed the gallery! As for a sand dollar, it is related to the starfish in the Phylum Echinodermata. If you look closely, you will see the same ‘5-arms’ as the starfish. Other examples would be the sea cucumber and the sea urchins I had never seen a live sand dollar before, so that day was a great treat!
So many great photos!
I love them all!
Did you take them?
Cheers,
Kahlua
I sure did Kahlua! I am happy to hear that you like them!
I’ ve had the privilege to visit San Diego one time. I couldn’t tell you much about it other than its a beautiful place.
Thank you for stopping by the website Fernando! It is so beautiful in San Diego, and I hope that I captured that in my photos!
Wow, I’m not from the area so I thought I should check your gallery to see what San Diego is like, and I’m glad I did! Thanks to your pictures I’ve learnt a lot about San Diego’s landscape and flora and fauna. There are some things I didn’t even know existed. For instance, I have no idea what a Pacific sand dollar is… is it some kind of fish? I’m intrigued…
I am so happy that you enjoyed the gallery! As for a sand dollar, it is related to the starfish in the Phylum Echinodermata. If you look closely, you will see the same ‘5-arms’ as the starfish. Other examples would be the sea cucumber and the sea urchins I had never seen a live sand dollar before, so that day was a great treat!