“La Jolla Cove” is a small, picturesque cove and beach that is surrounded by cliffs in La Jolla, San Diego, California. The Cove is protected as part of a marine reserve; underwater it is very rich in marine life, and is popular with snorkelers, swimmers and scuba divers.Within the cove are a number of avian species including gulls, shore birds, brown pelicans and Brandt’s cormorants.

“The Brown Pelican” is one of three pelican species found in the Americas and one of two that feed by diving in water. . The nominate subspecies in its breeding plumage has a white head with a yellowish wash on the crown. The nape and neck are dark maroon–brown. The upper sides of the neck have white lines along the base of the gular pouch, and the lower fore neck has a pale yellowish patch. The male and female are similar, but the female is slightly smaller. The nonbreeding adult has a white head and neck. The pink skin around the eyes becomes dull and gray in the nonbreeding season. It lacks any red hue, and the pouch is strongly olivaceous ochre-tinged and the legs are olivaceous gray to blackish-gray.

“Brandt's Cormorants” are part of the cormorant family of seabirds that inhabits the Pacific coast of North America. Its specific name, penicillatus is Latin for a painter's brush (pencil of hairs), in reference to white plumes on its neck and back during the early breeding season. During the breeding season, adults have a blue throat patch. This species nests on the ground or on rocky outcroppings.

“Sea Lions” are pinnipeds characterized by external ear flaps, long foreflippers, the ability to walk on all fours, short, thick hair, and a big chest and belly. They have an average lifespan of 20–30 years. A male California sea lion weighs on average about 660 lbs and is about 8 ft long, while the female sea lion weighs 220 lbs and is 6 ft long. Sea lions can move around 18 mph in water and at their fastest they can reach a speed of 35 mph.

“Seahorse” is the name given to 45 species of small marine fish with a head and neck suggestive of a horse, seahorses also feature segmented bony armor, an upright posture and a curled prehensile tail. Unusually among fish, a seahorse has a flexible, well-defined neck. It also sports a crown-like spine or horn on its head, termed a "coronet", which is distinct for each species. Seahorses swim very poorly, rapidly fluttering a dorsal fin and using pectoral fins to steer. They have long snouts, which they use to suck up food, and their eyes can move independently of each other like those of a chameleon.

The seahorses were photographed in tanks at the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla.