07June2021 ~07:30, overcast ~50s_F, and spotty light drizzle ended .. i was the only one at the Rosario Beach parking. A few minutes later, another vehicle arrived. And i noticed that the 2 people went down to the Rosario beach. ~10:30 when i left, there were ~12 vehicles in the parking lot. Also, during my ~2+ hours in Park, i noticed (only) a total of ~15 people and 2 dogs; everyone's out and about, happily doing their own "thing"; a photographer, shells/rocks picking, sight-seeing .. including the 2 pairs of visitors whom i encountered and had a short chat - there were all were very friendly and courteous. 😊
~08:30 while i was walking down from the Trail to the Bowman Bay beach, i suddenly heard loud growling coming ~10 ft away from me. At the same time, i heard someone from up on the hillside (~30 ft behind me) yelling and warning me to "watch out".
In front of me "stood" a big ~4 ft tall (my first thought was a) "sea-lion". i immediately stopped walking .. quickly back-stepped ~10 ft towards the hillside. Then seeing the "sea-lion" didn't advance towards me, but that it went back behind the log, i (friendly) shouted "thank-you for the warning" to the 2 people who were still up on the hillside. They told me that they had earlier saw the "sea-lion" sleeping behind the large driftwood-log. And when it heard my footsteps, it got up and growled - to tell me to go-away.
i went a safe distance (probably, another 20 ft) around the "sea-lion"/log location and continued out to Lighthouse Point, and Lottie Point.
On my way back to the parking, ~09:45 i arrived at the Discovery Bay hillside-shoreline path, near the location where i had first encountered the "sea-lion". And i could view (from ~50 ft away) the "sea-lion" having a siesta beside the large driftwood-log. 😊
After ~10 minutes, i met the (probably, Park) "Volunteer Host". And she told me that the "sea-lion" is one of the Park's "regular visitor"; named "Elsie-May", and that its a young female Elephant Seal. The Volunteer Host also told me that the Park may put up "fencing" to keep Elsie-May safe (from people).
What a beautiful experience today for me - my first time ever Wildlife sighting in the open. And very thankfully, no one - including Elsie-May or me - was hurt. 😊
My walk/hike (Out & Back): TH > Rosario Head > Bowman Bay > Lighthouse Point > Lottie Point { Stats: ~5 mi / Moving Time: 2:20 / Total Time: 2:40 }
Happy Trails Everyone! 😊
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