I spent about 3 days around Ventura, slowly getting ready for my 3 weeks out on Santa Rosa. The sunsets have been amazing in part because of the Santa Ana winds blowing all the pollution and particulate matter out over the ocean. On the horizon is Anacapa Island as seen from the hills above the city.
Today while monitoring I came across this Jerusalem cricket out in the open. Usually I only see them while digging holes. They always startle me, mostly because they are so big. When they molt, their exoskeleton looks like a little fetus.

The recent rains on the islands means tick season has started and I was unfortunate enough to walk into a nest of some sort not once, but twice today. Can you say "tick check"?

The elephant seals are "pupping" right now, giving birth to their dark, tiny pups. This little one on the right at China Camp looks pretty new, given the spotting on the sand (left side)!