CALIFORNIA

Do you love a sea of wildflowers?

Anacapa Blooms & Gulls Everywhere

Right next to the sea? Do you love sea arches?

Sea Arch, Anacapa Island, Channel Islands National Park

Do you love bird watching?

Sea Gull on a bed of Flowers

Do you love watching birds display their mighty wings?

California Brown Pelicans Over West Anacapa

Do you love hearing the barking of the sea lions?

California Sea Lions

Do you love lighthouse on an island?

Lighthouse and Visitor Center @ Anacapa

Would you want to see them all in one place? If yes, you may want to visit Anacapa Island, one of the Channel Islands National Park during spring ( April to May), off Santa Barbara Coast.

Inspiration Point @ Anacapa Island

Channel Islands National Park encompasses five remarkable islands. These are the Anacapa, Santa Cruz, San Miguel, Santa Rosa and Santa Barbara. I’ve never been to the other islands yet except Anacapa. Most of Channel Islands National Park resources are under water, preserving and protecting a wealth of natural and cultural resources on the islands and their ocean environment.

Anacapa Island

Anacapa Island is 11 miles away from the Oxnard Harbor, and the boat ride is about 1 hour. Oxbard Harbor is approximately 1 hour drive from Los Angeles. Yes, the Channel Islands are close enough to LA or to mainland CA yet they feel worlds apart.

Cliffs @ Anacapa Island

Anacapa island is predominantly volcanic in origin and may had been uplifted by faulting. This island hosts a wealth of natural and cultural resources.

Anacapa Island is a haven for seabirds.  Thousands of birds use Anacapa as a nesting area because of the relative lack of predators. The steep cliffs of West Anacapa are home to the largest breeding colony of endangered California brown pelicans. All the islets of Anacapa host the largest breeding colony of western gulls in the world. Western gulls begin their nesting efforts at the end of April. Fluffy chicks hatch in May and June. They fly away from the nest in July. If you want to visit Anacapa Island teeming with bird life, visit the island from April- June. Anacapa Island burst with colors from the wildflowers, mostly coreopsis carpeting the island. Wildflowers usually bloom March and may last until May. If you notice my pictures above, there are not a lot of colors anymore since we went to Anacapa Island early summer. Yes, there are still a lot of flowers, but they are past peak already. This pictures above were taken June. What we saw were mostly wilted coreopsis, but we’re glad to at least have some colors from snowplants. But we could just imagine how much beautiful the island would be if we were able to catch the peak of the wildflower bloom. If you come July or late in the summer, the island would probably be mostly brown and sea gulls may have left the area already. But if you are a diver, a kayaker, a snorkeler, the best time to visit the island may be summer, though the water is still cold in the summer that warrants a wet suit. But warmer enough than spring.

Next to come……more of sea gulls hatching and their fluffy chicks at Anacapa Island.

For more information on Anacapa, please visit the Channel Islands National Park Website: http://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/anacapa.htm

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