Shortly before sunset, a platoon of brown Pelicans wings its way south to settle for the night on Mori Rock. A flock of tiny sanderlings retreat and advance with the breaking waves, snatching their dinner on the run.
Gulls swoop and scream while a dignified sandpiper looks on in disdain.
For a 2.5 mile loop walk, drive to Beach Boulevard and Montecito Avenue where there's plenty of parking. Or ride SamTrans , get off at Clarendon and walk west three blocks to the beach. Those small dark shapes bobbing in the water are probably California sea lions or harbor seals. Pelican watching is a favorite activity in the summer months. When I first began paying attention to pelican flights in the mid 70s, the squadrons that visited Sharp Park never numbered more than nine.