A typical scene at Año Nuevo Point during the height of the elephant seals' birthing and breeding season.

A big male...

Close up on an elephant seal.... a female that is not too large looking from this angle.

I think this is a earlier born pup; maybe even by now a weaner or weaned pup; that has already put on some weight.

Our group of 20+.

The first dunes we arrive at, as we get close to Año Nuevo Point.

Fighting bulls.....

Retreating bull......

Victorious bull......

Late afternoon nap time at Año Nuevo Point.

Except a closer look reveals lots of activity.

Here, gulls are fighting over the placenta of a newly born elephant seal..... and I see four other pups in this frame.

Here is a sequence of a newly born pup, wth a gull trying to get at the placenta, and mama ultimately voicing her objection toward the bird.

This next sequence was the scene of an attempted mating, followed by gulls fighting over the placenta of a pup born right close by.

It starts with some adults, mostly females, making lots of noise, and the gulls swopping in for a meal of afterbirth (ain't nature gross).

I'm thinking the females are barking at the horny male in the middle of it all, but then again that could be considered an anthropocentric perspective on the scene.

Either way, the next two pictures are of what our guide said was an attempt at breeding.

Apparently, the female in the back would have nothing to do with it, and moved on (as you will see in the next pictures, the two farthest seals are gone, and the birds are back fighting over the placenta).

The gull on the front left, with its wings spread out just a bit, is tugging on part of the placenta.....

.... which you can see better here.