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20100327_Brown_Pelican_Head_On.jpg

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(223 views)
by Terry Costales

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

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Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(221 views)
by Terry Costales

Prehistoric looking pelicans sun and preen in the winter sun.

20100322_Brown_Pelican_Head.jpg

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis )

(221 views)
by Terry Costales

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

20100318_Raft_of_Sea_Otter.jpg

Raft of Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

(221 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 . . .

20100321_Brown_Pelican.jpg

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(220 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.

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Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(220 views)
by Terry Costales

The pelican glides effortlessly over the surface of the sea.

20100522_Brown_Pelicans_Perched_Fishing_Equipment.jpg

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus)

(219 views)
by Terry Costales

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

20100612_Brown_Pelican_Can_Fly.jpg

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis )

(219 views)
by Terry Costales

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

20100402_Sea_Lion_Swimming.jpg

Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)

(219 views)
by Terry Costales

This photo shows a sea lion swimming in the late afternoon sunlight beneath the wharf in Santa Cruz. Lovely light on a lovely animal.

20100522_Brown_Pelicans_Moss_Landing.jpg

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus)

(218 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.

20100602_Brown_Pelican_On_Fishing_Boat.jpg

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus)

(218 views)
by Terry Costales

Pelican posed aboard an old fishing boat.

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Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(218 views)
by Terry Costales

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

20100121_Great_Egret_Bodega_Bay.jpg

Great Egret (Ardea alba)

(217 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.

20100513_California_Sea_Lion_Family_Portrait.jpg

California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)

(216 views)
by Terry Costales

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.

20100614_Killdeer_eggs_Oakland_Middle_Harbor_Park.jpg

Killdeer eggs

(216 views)
by Terry Costales

This was the second killdeer nest I'd found. The first one was on gravel and this one on flowerbed mulch. Both times the nests were easily overlooked and the eggs hard to spot.

20100323_Harbor_Seal.jpg

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(215 views)
by Terry Costales

Harbor seals are close to the top of the cute list, right up there next to sea otters. We saw close to eighty harbor seals that day, most of them lying on shore watching us watching them.

20100616_Snowy_Egret_Stalked_Great_Egret.jpg

Snowy Egret and Great Egret

(215 views)
by Terry Costales

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

20100427_Sea_Lions_Under_Wharf.jpg

Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)

(215 views)
by Terry Costales

Sea Lions swam in and out of sunlight and shade beneath the wharf in Santa Cruz.

20100615_Killdeer_Faked_Being_Hurt.jpg

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

(214 views)
by Terry Costales

This killdeer tried to lure me away from her nest and eggs fluttering her wings as if injured. Ironically, the only reason I knew her nest was nearby was because of the mother killdeer's behavior. She faked being hurt and then looked back to see if I was buying it.

20100604_Demure_California_Sea_Lion.jpg

California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)

(214 views)
by Terry Costales

A female sea lion tried to appear very demure.

20100509_Harbor_Seal_Whiskers.jpg

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(214 views)
by Terry Costales

Two Harbor Seal were of quite different fur colors but all the whiskers were blonde.

20100511_Sea_Otter_Grooming_Traps_Air.jpg

Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

(214 views)
by Terry Costales

Sea Otters appeared to spend a great deal of their time grooming themselves. They use their bodies as tables, so have to keep food scraps washed off. While they clean, they also push and sometimes blow air bubbles into their fur. The extra air trapped in their fur contributes to their buoyancy and increases insulation.

20100610_Brown_Pelican_By_fisherman.jpg

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis )

(214 views)
by Terry Costales

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

20100604_Young_Sleepy_California_Sea_Lion.jpg

California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)

(214 views)
by Terry Costales

A very young sea lion was sleepily curious about his observers.

20100706_Wilsons_Warbler_Tilden_Park.jpg

Wilson's Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla )

(214 views)
by Terry Costales

Wilson's Warblers are numerous in California, yet this was the first one I had ever seen. Of course, since seeing my first, I now suddenly seem to find them on every outing.

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