White Pelicans

(179 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.

Raft of Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

(173 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 )

(172 views)
by Terry Costales

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

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis )

(172 views)
by Terry Costales

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

Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)

(172 views)
by Terry Costales

Of course England has it's fair share of "flying rats". For some reason this one in Hyde Park seemed more like an actual bird to me than just feathered vermin. I'm sure if I was there long enough they would become just as annoying as pigeons are here at home.

Great Egret (Ardea Alba)

(172 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.

Black-crowned Night Heron (nycticorax nicticorax)

(172 views)
by Terry Costales

At the sanctuary, there is a group of palm trees next to the large pond that provides prime nesting spots. It is fenced off to ensure the breeding birds are not disturbed. In late March, this was one of many night herons nesting amongst the snowy and great egrets. Its usually yellow legs are pink because it's breeding season.

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

(172 views)
by Terry Costales

This female Killdeer is standing over eggs in its "nest." Three eggs are actually present but only one is clearly visible. Even the clearly visible one is very well camouflaged. It is reputed their call sounds like "kill deer" and thus the name. I don't hear it myself but maybe that's just me.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(172 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 californicus)

(171 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.

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

(171 views)
by Terry Costales

The female Killdeer in this picture is adopting a wounded bird pose and making a distress call. She is trying to lure me away from her nest by convincing me she is easy prey. Luckily for her I only wanted her photo.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus)

(171 views)
by Terry Costales

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

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(171 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.

Male Lion Sleeping

(171 views)
by Terry Costales

Here is a photo of a lion doing what a lion does best.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(171 views)
by Terry Costales

The pelican glides effortlessly over the surface of the sea.

Harbor Seal

(171 views)
by Terry Costales

This photo of a Harbor Seal was taken very near the Lucy Evans Interpretive Center at the bird sanctuary. I was very surprised to see it but the ranger verified that they have been known to occasionally appear.

Great Egret

(171 views)
by Terry Costales

The Great Egret has just caught a small fish.

Killdeer eggs

(171 views)
by Terry Costales

This is a photo of three very well camouflaged eggs in a Killdeer "nest." Because Killdeer often lay their eggs on gravel, the parking lot at the sanctuary had become a favorite nesting spot for them. Unfortunately a parking lot is a dangerous place for eggs, which leads to much failure for the Killdeer who lay eggs there.

Great Egret

(171 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)

(171 views)
by Terry Costales

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

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(171 views)
by Terry Costales

Prehistoric looking pelicans sun and preen in the winter sun.

Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

(170 views)
by Terry Costales

Seeing a bright red eye on a bird, to me, is quite startling. Although the heron appears to be standing one-legged, the other leg is actually stretched out in front, grasping another branch.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus)

(170 views)
by Terry Costales

Pelican posed aboard an old fishing boat.

Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron

(170 views)
by Terry Costales

Taken late March, this bird is probably a year or two old and has the yellow legs you see on both juveniles and non breeding adults. They get their full adult plumage in the third year. If you look at this shot and the thumbnail below it, you can see they are roughly the same size and shape. Nice of them to pose for their comparison shots.

Black-crowned Night Heron

(170 views)
by Terry Costales

The bird on the left is a young adult who won't achieve the look of the mature bird on its right for another year.