Whiskers in the Wild: Portraits, Personalities, and Painted Skies
Join us for wildlife stories, field notes, and plenty of coastal surprises - from sea lions at the marina to hidden tide pools and a shop full of nature-inspired art.
Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard, California // September 17th, 2025
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Locations
📍 Channel View Park — 29 Ocean Dr, Oxnard, CA 93035
Small park at the harbor entrance, just steps from Hollywood Beach. Sea lions often gather on the rocks and in the water - listen for their signature “arf”! No restrooms at the park, but facilities are available elsewhere in the harbor. Limited street and lot parking.
📍 Kiddie Beach Park — 2721 Victoria Ave, Oxnard, CA 93035
Calm, protected cove inside Channel Islands Harbor. Great for families and swimming. Lifeguard on duty in summer. Showers, restrooms, and free parking on-site. Check water advisories after storms. Recently a major sea lion haul-out - maintain a safe distance and follow posted restrictions.
📍 Hobie Beach — 2974-3098 Victoria Ave, Oxnard, CA 93035
Designated launch site for kayaks, SUPs, and small sailboats. Calm harbor water, easy marina access. Free parking in adjacent lot. Restrooms & showers nearby at Kiddie Beach.
📍 Silver Strand Beach — 2525 Ocean Dr, Oxnard, CA 93035
Stretch of beach near harbor mouth, featuring rocky jetty haul-outs popular with sea lions. Parking and restrooms available at nearby beach access points.
Shifting Gears: Stories Beyond the Calendar
You may notice we’re dropping the week numbers from the titles. I’m still out with the sea lions almost every day, and my goal is to share these updates weekly. But as new adventures pop up - like last week’s Santa Cruz Island & Painted Cave excursion, or big editing and shop projects - the schedule might shift a little. The focus is less on strict timelines and more on the stories and personalities that make each visit unique. Whether it’s a standout portrait, new behavior, or a sunset that changes everything, each post will dive deeper into what makes these encounters special - no matter when they happen. Thanks for following along as this project evolves!
We’re rolling Weeks 4 and 5 into one update. Life’s been a whirlwind between my Santa Cruz Island & Painted Cave adventure and adding new framed canvases to the shop (which are quickly becoming our signature piece). Video updates have slowed a bit, but the colony has kept me busy in the best way.
Portraits & Personalities
Lately, I’ve been focusing on capturing the personalities of the sea lions through portraiture - really letting their individual quirks and moods shine. There’s so much more to them than first meets the eye, and I’m finding new stories every time I look through the lens.
Cleaning Up After the Crowd
Much of our time lately has been spent at Channel View Park, where the sea lion colony has become a fixture in our daily routine. Most days are a mix of quiet observation - watching the colony’s shifting dynamics, new arrivals, and playful spats - and the less glamorous work of picking up trash left behind by visitors. It’s a reminder that sharing space with wildlife comes with a responsibility to care for it, even when it means hauling out bags of litter before settling in with the camera.
With California Coastal Cleanup Day coming up on September 20th, we’re planning to participate, whether that means joining an organized group or simply focusing on cleaning up our usual sea lion spots. It’s always a bit of a balancing act: wanting to document the beauty and wildness of these animals, while also confronting the reality of human impact on their home. Coexisting is still a work in progress, for all of us.
Normally, I avoid posting photos that show litter. But this week, I included an image of a sea lion resting behind a child’s sand shovel because it felt too raw and symbolic to leave out. It’s a small, honest reminder of how closely our lives and theirs overlap, and how much work there still is to do to protect these spaces.
Evenings at Kiddie Beach
There’s been a noticeable increase in female sea lions lately, and the overall population is growing. Many have started gathering at Kiddie Beach, relaxing on the sand and flopping around in the calm water. We’ve visited a couple of times at sunset and watched the sky turn pink and orange as the crowds clear out and the colony settles in for the evening. Those quiet moments, with the beach nearly empty and the sea lions at ease, always feel like a reward - reminding me why I keep coming back.
Gallery Highlights
Personality Portraits: This week, I focused on capturing close-up portraits that show the individuality and unique expressions of the sea lions.
The Ghost of the Harbor: We spotted a stunning silver-colored sea lion - regal and unforgettable.
Snowy Egret Guest: Always a treat to see who drops in for a cameo.
Coexistence (Sort Of): A sea lion with a yellow sand shovel. Sharing space, for better or worse.
Sunset lullabies at Kiddie Beach. Harbor evenings don’t get much softer than this.
What I’m Learning and Using
I’ve been diving into the California sea lion chapter of the Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, digging into everything from their reproductive cycles to the subtle cues that help identify different sexes and ages in the colony. It’s been fascinating to connect what I’m reading with what I see each day - like spotting more females lately, or understanding the social dynamics that play out during haul-outs and in the water. I’m realizing how much there is to learn just by paying closer attention. Formal courses are something I’m considering for the future, but for now, I’m really enjoying the process of matching field notes with what I’m learning in the book.
Looking Ahead
Thank you for sticking with me through all the edits and adventures. More sea lion stories, shop updates, and new wildlife encounters are on the way. If you’re participating in Coastal Cleanup Day or have a favorite sea lion moment, I’d love to hear from you in the comments or on socials.
If you’re curious about our latest work, check out the new framed canvas collection - these pieces are quickly becoming our signature, and I’m excited to keep adding more. For the full archive of stories, you can always explore the Whiskers in the Wild hub.
Thanks for following along. See you out there. ☺︎
Gallery
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