Whiskers in the Wild: Post-Storm Visitors & Harbor Life
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 // October 16th, 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.
📍 Bench Viewpoint (Near Salt + Noelle’s Dockside Studio) — 3141 Victoria Avenue, Oxnard, CA 93035
Public bench along the harbor walking path. Offers a clear view of occasional sea lions and local bird activity. Essentially the Salt + Noelle view, without being on our patio. Restroom on-site. Large parking lot available; parking fees unknown.
📍 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.
After the Storm
Two days after our first real rainstorm in months, Channel Islands Harbor looked completely different. The water was dark and murky - brown-green and heavy with debris - not the usual clear edges and blue channel. I set up my camera on the patio just to see what might show up. Sometimes, wildlife lays low after a storm. But this time, the whole sea lion colony turned up right across the harbor, along with a handful of other regulars. I didn’t even have to leave home; the action was right in front of me.
When the Colony Finds You
This post-storm video shows harbor life as it happened, filmed entirely from my patio. No music, no narration, just ambient sound. The sea lions were out in force, spread across the docks, barking, and lounging. If you listen closely, you’ll catch:
California sea lion vocalizations
Marine staff hosing off boats and docks
Staff brooming and landscaping below
Passing cars, boats, and planes
Neighbors opening and closing sliding patio doors
Local bird calls and activity
All shot with the 200–600mm lens and 1.4x teleconverter. The wind made stabilization tough; a sturdier tripod is on the way. Audio is straight from the camera - no external mic yet, but it’s finally here for next time!
To watch in 4K, first press play. Then click the gear icon in the player and select the highest quality option.
Fieldwork Highlights
This week’s gallery brings together a range of moments from both before and after the storm, across Channel View Park, the new dock construction, and along the harbor shoreline.
One morning at Channel View Park, the marine haze lifted just enough to reveal the outline of Anacapa Island and its historic lighthouse. That distant view always connects the daily activity here in the harbor to the broader Channel Islands National Park offshore. I also spent time observing black turnstones working the tide-washed rocks. Their quick, deliberate movements and feeding behaviors were easy to miss but rewarding to document up close. In one photo, I caught a turnstone mid-meal, eating a limpet.
The sea lions offered plenty of action this week. At the new dock builds, several hauled out on top of the workers’ plastic sheeting, actively shedding their coats. Piles of fur collected around them, and you can see loose fur lining their bodies like confetti. There’s also a full frame-by-frame sequence of a sea lion launching itself off the jetty into the water, showing off both strength and agility. I focused on some smaller details, too, like the texture of a resting flipper in the sunlight.
A personal highlight was spotting my first harbor seal (!!!) in Channel Islands Harbor. Unlike the more vocal sea lions, this seal surfaced quietly and kept its distance, blending into the background but still catching the sunlight on its whiskers.
The harbor regulars made plenty of appearances too. The mallard duck pair glided through the calm water, the male’s green head catching the light beside the more subdued female. A female house finch perched on a drying agave stalk. California ground squirrels were busy among the ice plants, pausing mid-snack to check their surroundings. These moments reflect the daily patterns that play out along the shoreline.
Some images capture the intersection of wildlife and the working harbor - gulls standing watch as sea lions nap on the rocks, with fishing vessels crossing in the background. Others bring together the region’s layers, like Platform Gina set against Anacapa Island, highlighting the ongoing balance between industrial activity and the coastal environment.
Every image in the gallery was made with patience and a telephoto lens, keeping a respectful distance. My “Admire from Afar” approach is always at the core.
Storms, Detours, and What’s Next
Last Saturday’s trip to San Miguel Island was canceled because of extreme weather. We tried to pivot and plan for Santa Cruz Island instead, but the conditions were just as bad, so that trip had to be rescheduled, too. That’s why I ended up heading north to Morro Bay, where I spent my time photographing and filming sea otter moms and pups… in 46 mph wind gusts. It was challenging but worth it for the chance to observe their daily routines. There’s a full video on my YouTube channel, and a dedicated blog post coming soon, featuring a gallery from three different Morro Bay visits over the past month. I also made a stop at the Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery; footage and a story from that trip are coming up as well!
Our San Miguel Island trip is now rescheduled for this coming weekend. I’m hoping the weather finally cooperates. The most exciting news: Captain Ryan at Pacific Offshore Expeditions is taking us to Point Bennett at San Miguel Island between November and December for a shot at seeing orcas and the huge pinniped colony. That’s been on my bucket list for a long time, and I’m looking forward to sharing what we find.
On the Water: Gear the Actually Works
With the number of days I’m spending on the water lately, I finally upgraded my kit. The 28L Panga backpack, 6L dry sidekick, large bottle bag, and 100L Panga duffel have all been worth it. Keeping gear dry and organized is non-negotiable when conditions change fast, and these have held up well through spray, rain, and rough handling. I’m finally more than prepared for wet landings on our expeditions.
Admire from Afar
Every photo and minute of footage in this post was captured at a respectful distance, using telephoto lenses and a conservation-first approach. “Admire from Afar” isn’t just a tagline - it’s the core of how I work, making sure animals go about their routines undisturbed. If you want to know more about my approach to ethical wildlife photography and viewing, you can read about it here. For more harbor stories and every “Whiskers in the Wild” entry, check out the series hub.
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