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Week reset Sunday, Month reset the 1st, Year reset 1/1 |
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(301 views)
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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(300 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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(299 views)
A very young sea lion was sleepily curious about his observers.
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(299 views)
Two Macaws preening one another. A very intimate, gentle moment in a birds' life.
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(298 views)
A female sea lion tried to appear very demure.
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(298 views)
A very large male sea lion with a much smaller female.
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(298 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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(297 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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(297 views)
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.
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(296 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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(296 views)
Prehistoric looking pelicans sun and preen in the winter sun.
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(296 views)
Here is a view of a pelican you don't usually see. A head on view of its enormous bill.
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(295 views)
The pelican glides effortlessly over the surface of the sea.
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(295 views)
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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(295 views)
This is a close-up of the same Pelican I posted yesterday,
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(295 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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(294 views)
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.
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(294 views)
A lone individual popped up out of the water after a dive for food. We suspected he has a clam grasped in his paws. Otters love shellfish.
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(271 views)
Sea Lions swam in and out of sunlight and shade beneath the wharf in Santa Cruz.
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(270 views)
A very pregnant Harbor Seal looking quite pleased with herself.
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(270 views)
Portrait of a large male sea lion sleepily surveying his domain.
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(270 views)
More of the endless variation of facial expressions you can always find in sea lions.
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(270 views)
King of the mountain and he knows it.
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(270 views)
I know they are wild animals with big teeth and claws but jeez, don't they look cuddly?!
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(269 views)
I love the pattern of this seal's fur, but I would never entertain the idea of taking it away from her to use for myself.
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