Tidal Pools of San Diego

Our eldest daughter C took me to La Jolla at San Diego to see the tidal pools.  It really is a lot of fun. First things that greet us are the pelicans.  Some are in the air, and a lot more are on the rocky shelves above the water.  Waiting for something, presumably.  

The sea anemones are pretty.  If you touch them with your finger, their tentacles would grab your finger and try to pull you into its centrally positioned mouth to eat.  You’d better pull your finger back before they can digest it.  Just like the way they eat crabs, mussels and other small animals.  

Some of them camouflage themselves by grabbing and covering themselves with small pieces of shells, rocks, etc.  Rather effectively. 

There are many tiny hermit crabs in small shells.  When they retreat into the shell, all you can see is a tiny claw that blocks the entrance.  in reality, it is actual its big claw.  

Some of them are bold enough to come out swinging their big claw.  One pinches my finger with its big claw.  Fortunately, for me, it is not big enough to cause much damage.  

There are many other interesting sights, such as crabs, fishes, mussels, goose barnacles, …  Plenty enough to explore.  

We arrive in mid-afternoon, just about low tide.  Soon the tide comes back, gently at first.  

We beat our retreat.  Just in time.