Sleeping sea lions

The lions sleep today

Though it sounds more like seafarer jargon, 'hauling out' is the term biologists use for pinnipeds' practice of posting up outside the water. These female South American sea lions are probably just taking a (quite literal) breather between underwater foraging sessions, soaking up some sun in the process. Sometimes haul-outs are an extended affair, though, as it's also where the sea lions form social groups, mate, and give birth. Pinnipeds here in Peru tend to bask upon sea boulders like these on the Ballestas Islands, but in other parts of the world, hauled-out sea lions, seals, and walruses crowd beaches and ice floes as well.