CALIFORNIA

Gulls Flying Over Inspiration Point @ Anacapa Island

Though the beauty of Anacapa Island is far beyond compare, but it may not actually be for everyone to see. Especially for those who could not stand some roughness in their lives even just for a short time. I saw a lot of kids enjoying the place, as their curiosity are far stronger than the fine things they may have been enjoying in the mainland. You hear them asking always a lot of questions. But I saw also a few adults who just kept on complaining how there is no water, no food and no shade on the island. If you go to Anacapa, you have to bring your own water and food. It also has no sand for beachgoers,

Rocky Cliffs of Anacapa 

but it has a lot of wildlife under its water, a delight for divers. Whales, orcas, and dolphins pass offshore. Tidepools are great. It is wild, and maybe, for us, we like it that way. 

Simply Nature @ Anacapa

The island has no trees for shade at all, for those who want to take relief from the sun, must go to the visitor center where they can watch the history of Anacapa and also watch the live video they provide for the fascinating life under the sea. Park rangers dive into the waters of the Anacapa with a video camera for those who want to see life under the sea without getting wet. However, for those who want to adventure around the small island would have to suffice with the shade from their hats as the island has no trees nor even man made shade. What carpets the island are wildflowers, and yes, nesting sea gulls (April- June).

A Haven for Seabirds and Flowers

Sea birds are probably the most conspicuous life at Anacapa. In the beaches of California, one would always see the the playing matured gulls, but I haven’t had gotten a chance to see what their babies look like at the beaches. The sea gulls nest farther away from the beaches. Being so protective of their young, they go to secluded places such as uninhabited islands, moored boats, and spits.

Mom Gull with her Fluffy Chicks

In my wanderings in California, I saw only two places so far where they nest and hatch. One, at several hundred miles away from the beach at Mono Lake, and the other place I saw is here at Anacapa island. The moment I stepped on the island, I hear the sound of the gulls. Babies probably looking for their mom while their mom look for some foods.

Baby Sea Gull

Fluffy Chick looking for food?

Baby Looking For Mom?

Gull Calling out Her Chick?

The sea gulls on the island seem to have that penetrating stare, maybe, one way of communicating to us to get off their way, especially their babies.

Mom Carefully Watching her Chicks

And the picture below somehow tells me that my guess may be right that they are carefully watching their chicks from humans, “off limits”, if they can only utter that word to the visitors of the island.

Guard of the Island?

Actually, even though Anacapa is only a small island, but the middle and west portion of the island are not open to visitation and hiking, those parts of the island are really set aside for wildlife.

Middle and West Portion of Anacapa from Inspiration Point

Only the East portion of Anacapa Island is open to visitors, but also on a very limited number. One must make a reservation with the Channel Islands National park Boat Concessionaire, mainly Island Packers, to go the island.

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