Starfish on the Huntington Beach Pier

Speaking of serendipity, yesterday afternoon, I happened by the Huntington Beach Pier in time to see a crowd gathered around, talking and gesturing and paying far more attention than usual to the pier pilings. When I went over to see why, I found that there were a whole bunch of giant starfish hanging onto the pilings.

They were a beautiful, unexpected wonder, and I spent some time admiring them and taking pictures. Some were out in the open, others half-buried under the barnacles.

What I want to know now, though, is what were they doing there? I don't think it's a case of "They were always there and I never noticed." So, what brings giant starfish, creatures that normally stroll along very slowly under the ocean, to the pier? I can see why they hung on when they got there, and I suspect them of finding barnacles tasty, but how did they end up there? Does this happen periodically? Or is it a case of "always there"? I did try a websearch, but with no success at all.

Sunset at Balboa Beach

Heron Watching the Ocean

I don't usually see these on the beach. They seem to prefer the quieter waters of bays and wetlands.

Seagulls

I love seagulls. They always seem so mythic and strange in flight.

And then so goofy on the ground, but that is for another day and another time.

For now, I am admiring their grace, beauty, and wonder.

Seal on the Beach

Unfortunately, what seemed a great photo opportunity probably came about because the seal is sick. There were some folk on the beach who told me they'd been watching him all day, and this was as active as he had gotten--except when animal control came by, at which point, he wouldn't let anyone near. Animal control was going to come again. Certainly he was paying far less attention to the presence of people (standing respectfully back, but still there) than he ought to have.

I hope he'll be ok. He may (I theorize based on almost no data) be one of the animals suffering from domoic acid.  Or, maybe not. Maybe animal control was able to come, take him somewhere safe, and give him whatever medicine he needed.