PHOTOS: Among the Channel Islands elephant seals

Stewart tags a northern elephant seal pup.  (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Stewart, left, prepares tags as park ranger Ian Williams observes.  (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Northern elephant seals fight on the beach at Cuyler Harbor on San Miguel Island.  (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

A bull elephant seal, left, propels himself on the beach at Cardwell Point on San Miguel Island, part of the Channel Islands National Park. About 30,000 seals are on the island this winter, where they have their pups and breed.  (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

An elephant seal checks out an observer.  (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

An elephant seal lounges in the surf.  (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Research biologist Brent Stewart watches elephant seals through his binoculars from a bluff overlooking Cardwell Point on San Miguel Island.  (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Cup of coffee in hand at the ranger station on San Miguel Island, Stewart looks off toward the rising sun before a day of seal-watching.  (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Channel Islands National Park ranger Ian Williams raises the flag at the ranger station on San Miguel Island, winter home to thousands of northern elephant seals.  (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)