Do Not Enter

(503 views)
by Bryan Costales

A "Do Not Enter" sign also read, "Authorized Vehicles Only," on JFK Promenade.

Great Egret (Ardea Alba)

(473 views)
by Terry Costales

These large egrets are graceful and breathtaking in flight. I watched this bird flying back and forth several times bringing nesting material back to it's mate. There was only one pair that I saw amongst dozens of the smaller Snowy Egrets.

Great Egret (Ardea alba)

(473 views)
by Terry Costales

A great egret at the edge of the bay looking for food. It is a very graceful bird whether walking or flying.

Snowy Egret and Great Egret

(473 views)
by Terry Costales

The larger Great Egret was stalked by the smaller Snowy Egret.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis )

(472 views)
by Terry Costales

This is a close-up of the same Pelican I posted yesterday,

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(472 views)
by Terry Costales

Here is a view of a pelican you don't usually see. A head on view of its enormous bill.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(471 views)
by Terry Costales

Prehistoric looking pelicans sun and preen in the winter sun.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus)

(471 views)
by Terry Costales

A large group of pelicans were perched on the fish processing equipment.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(471 views)
by Terry Costales

A flock of pelicans flying in typical formation with Anacapa island in the background.

Great Egret and Pheasant

(470 views)
by Terry Costales

I didn't see a pheasant when I looked at this tree, only the Egret. As the boat drew nearer to the tree the pheasant burst out, startling the egret and me. I tried to get a shot of them as they flew past, but I was much too slow. It wasn't until I looked at the photos at home that I had the pleasure to see I had gotten a shot of the pheasant after all.

Great Egret

(470 views)
by Terry Costales

The Great Egret has just caught a small fish.

Great Egret

(470 views)
by Terry Costales

I was fascinated to watch this egret hunt . He moved very patiently and slowly, then his head would dart into the shallow water and he would come up with a little fish. It must take a lot of little fish to fill such a large bird.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(470 views)
by Terry Costales

The pelican glides effortlessly over the surface of the sea.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis )

(470 views)
by Terry Costales

The fisherman hadn't noticed that a pelican had just landed next to him on the pier.

Great Egret

(470 views)
by Terry Costales

I got this shot just as the egret was landing. Look closely and you can see the feet haven't quite come to rest on the pipe.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis )

(470 views)
by Terry Costales

It surprises me that a big bird like a Pelican can fly so effortlessly.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(470 views)
by Terry Costales

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.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus)

(470 views)
by Terry Costales

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.

Raft of Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

(469 views)
by Terry Costales

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 . . .

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus)

(469 views)
by Terry Costales

Pelican posed aboard an old fishing boat.

Great Egret

(469 views)
by Terry Costales

I think I am addicted to taking shots of flying egrets.

Great Egret flying

(469 views)
by Terry Costales

To get a shot of a graceful bird flying is always a coup.

Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

(468 views)
by Terry Costales

This is one otter trying to persuade another otter to share its meal. It wasn't very successful.

Raft of Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

(468 views)
by Terry Costales

This photo shows just part of a very large raft of otters we saw in the Elkhorn Slough. The older individuals had light faces, and such cute faces they were.

White Pelicans

(468 views)
by Terry Costales

Taking photos from a boat was a new experience. I was able to get much closer to this flock of Pelicans before they took flight. These appear to be Australian Pelicans because of the pink bills. Or do American White Pelicans have pink bills in the winter? Further research needed.