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top 25 items viewed per day
Week reset Sunday, Month reset the 1st, Year reset 1/1 |
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(461 views)
It was beautiful day in Santa Cruz and I had been photographing the sea lions when this pelican landed a few feet away on the pier railing.
If there was ever a compelling visual argument for birds being the modern descendants of dinosaurs, it's the pelican. I could easily imagine them flying just out of reach above the snapping jaws of some aquatic sea monster.
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(461 views)
For an unforgettable wildlife experience, I highly recommend the Elkhorn Slough Safari in Moss Landing. We saw over one hundred sea otters, almost eighty harbor seals and dozens of sea lions very up close and personal.
This photo shows a raft of about eighty sea otters. Raft is the official label for a bunch of otters hanging out together, looking like a raft.
In addition to sea mammals, I also photographed sixteen species of birds. The trip was two hours of wildlife bliss. There were a few . . . |
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These two pelicans were one pair of dozens loitering around the marina, all waiting for a fishy opportunity. The one on the left was an immature bird which had not grown into its adult plumage.
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(459 views)
A large group of pelicans were perched on the fish processing equipment.
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This photo shows a sea lion swimming in the late afternoon sunlight beneath the wharf in Santa Cruz. Lovely light on a lovely animal.
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This is a close-up of the same Pelican I posted yesterday,
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(458 views)
Prehistoric looking pelicans sun and preen in the winter sun.
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It surprises me that a big bird like a Pelican can fly so effortlessly.
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(458 views)
Two Macaws preening one another. A very intimate, gentle moment in a birds' life.
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(458 views)
The pelican glides effortlessly over the surface of the sea.
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Here is a view of a pelican you don't usually see. A head on view of its enormous bill.
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Pelican posed aboard an old fishing boat.
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The fisherman hadn't noticed that a pelican had just landed next to him on the pier.
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King of the mountain and he knows it.
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A flock of pelicans flying in typical formation with Anacapa island in the background.
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(456 views)
Portrait of a large male sea lion sleepily surveying his domain.
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(455 views)
To our left as we exited the harbor and entered the slough, we saw an old pier covered with sea lions. We slowly motored past them. It was quite satisfying to be at their level and so close to them. I feel like I ended up with a family portrait instead of a wildlife photo.
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(455 views)
The larger Great Egret was stalked by the smaller Snowy Egret.
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(455 views)
Close up of a male sea lion. According to Wiki, "Zalophus californianus" means "Californian big-head" because a male grows a crest of bone on top of his head that causes a bulging forehead.
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(455 views)
A very young sea lion was sleepily curious about his observers.
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A female sea lion tried to appear very demure.
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Sea Lions swam in and out of sunlight and shade beneath the wharf in Santa Cruz.
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More of the endless variation of facial expressions you can always find in sea lions.
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(454 views)
The Spectacled Bear is the only bear that comes from South America. I hope this unique and beautiful endangered bear survives.
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(454 views)
A very large male sea lion with a much smaller female.
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