What Animals Are at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse?

Birds

• When visiting the Pigeon Point Lighthouse it would be hard to miss the many birds that inhabit the area. In both winter and summer, you can see more than 200 species of birds, reports the San Mateo Coast Natural History Association. About 150 of those species nest in this area, while others stop over during their migration. Winter birds include the ruddy turnstone, black turnstone, surfbird, herring gull and the northern fumar. Summer birds include the tufted puffin, black-footed albatross and the laysan albatross. Year-round residents include the great blue heron, Cassin's auklet, rhinoceros auklet and Brandt's cormorants.

Reptiles and Amphibians

• Among the marsh plants reside several reptiles and amphibian species. These include the endangered California red-legged frog and San Francisco garter snake. California Herps.com range maps also show that the California tiger salamander, California slender salamander, northern alligator lizard, California legless lizard and the western toad inhabit the area.

Mammals

• Both land and marine mammals make their home at or near the Pigeon Point Lighthouse. During the spring migration from March to May, more than 18,000 gray whales pass the lighthouse, reports the San Mateo Coast Natural History Association. Sea lions, harbor seals and elephant seals are also found in the area. Just a few minutes drive north is the largest breeding colony of the northern elephant seals found on the mainland. The elephant seals have their pups here in the winter.

Fish

• In the ocean and brackish waters of the connecting marsh reside many fish species. Some of the easiest to spot include the tidewater goby, steelhead trout and Coho salmon. The trout and salmon lay their eggs in the inland rivers of California and live the rest of their adult lives in the ocean. This region marks the southernmost range of the Coho salmon.

Tide Pool Habitat

• Tide pools surround the beaches and rocks around the lighthouse. Each individual tide pool teams with life. This animal life includes California mussels, hermit crabs, kelp crabs, mossy chiton--a type of mollusk that looks as if it has moss growing on it--purple sea urchins and giant, green sea anemones.