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20100426_Harbor_Seal_Colors.jpg

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(875 views)
by Terry Costales

This group shot of harbor seals illustrates their cuteness and wide variations in colors.

20100402_Sea_Lion_Swimming.jpg

Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)

(874 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.

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Raft of Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

(874 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 . . .

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Macaws

(874 views)
by Terry Costales

Two Macaws preening one another. A very intimate, gentle moment in a birds' life.

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Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos ornatus)

(873 views)
by Terry Costales

The Spectacled Bear is the only bear that comes from South America. I hope this unique and beautiful endangered bear survives.

20100524_Harbor_Seal_Fur.jpg

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(873 views)
by Terry Costales

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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Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(873 views)
by Terry Costales

Bette Davis eyes? Bedroom eyes? Puppy dog eyes? They've got nothing on harbor seal eyes! The little slit behind the eye is the ear which is an easy way to distinguish it from a sea lion with its little external ear.

20100323_Harbor_Seal.jpg

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(873 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.

20100530_Harbor_Seal_Big_Teeth.jpg

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(873 views)
by Terry Costales

I know they are wild animals with big teeth and claws but jeez, don't they look cuddly?!

20100531_Harbor_Seals_Up_Close.jpg

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(872 views)
by Terry Costales

I was able to get nice close-ups of the harbor seals because I used a telephoto lens. If the boat had come this close they would have been disturbed and swum away.

20100524_Pregnant_Harbor_Seal.jpg

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(872 views)
by Terry Costales

A very pregnant Harbor Seal looking quite pleased with herself.

20100509_Harbor_Seal_Whiskers.jpg

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(872 views)
by Terry Costales

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

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Great Egret (Ardea alba)

(872 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.

20100515_Harbor_Seal_Curious_About_Us.jpg

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(872 views)
by Terry Costales

The Harbor Seal was very curious about us as we motored past, but not curious enough to actually move.

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Lion (Panthera leo)

(872 views)
by Terry Costales

The lion demonstrated camouflage.

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Black-crowned Night Heron

(871 views)
by Terry Costales

This bedraggled juvenile black-crowned night heron was perched on the dock near the boat we were going to use. I hoped it wasn't a harbinger of how our trip would turn out.

20100320_Raft_of_Sea_Otter.jpg

Raft of Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

(871 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.

20100319_Sea_Otter_Groomed.jpg

Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

(871 views)
by Terry Costales

Here is an older otter, recognized by the light colored fur on its face. It is grooming itself after eating. Otters must have one of the cutest faces in the animal kingdom

20100129_Black-Crowned_Night_Heron.jpg

Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

(871 views)
by Terry Costales

An adult night heron in full breeding plumage showing off its pink legs which are yellow the rest of the year.

20101221_Lion_Santa_Barbara_Zoo.jpg

Lion (Panthera leo)

(871 views)
by Terry Costales

The King of the Jungle appeared regal that day.

20100326_Sea_Otter_With_Shell.jpg

Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

(870 views)
by Terry Costales

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.

20100615_Killdeer_Faked_Being_Hurt.jpg

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

(870 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.

20100517_Sea_Otter_Paparazzi.jpg

Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

(870 views)
by Terry Costales

Here is another otter grooming or maybe he is thinking "oh, not another boatload of paparazzi!"

20101210_African_Spurred_Tortoise_Santa_Barbara_Zoo.jpg

African Spurred Tortoise (Geochelone sulcata)

(870 views)
by Terry Costales

A very large tortoise with an imposing look.

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Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(870 views)
by Terry Costales

The pelican glides effortlessly over the surface of the sea.

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