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Handle With Care

(499 views)
by Bryan Costales external link

A utility box was painted to resemble an art shipping box. The near end was labeled, "Handle With Care." A break in the face of the crate on this near side revealed the Mona Lisa inside.

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Great Egret (Ardea alba)

(269 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.

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Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(263 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.

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Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(262 views)
by Terry Costales

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

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Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(262 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)

(261 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.

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Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(261 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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Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(261 views)
by Terry Costales

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

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Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(261 views)
by Terry Costales

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

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Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(260 views)
by Terry Costales

A very pregnant Harbor Seal looking quite pleased with herself.

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Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(260 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.

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Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus)

(259 views)
by Terry Costales

Pelican posed aboard an old fishing boat.

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Raft of Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

(259 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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American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)

(259 views)
by Terry Costales

A female avocet sits on her eggs. When the tide comes in this nest will barely be above the water.

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Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)

(259 views)
by Terry Costales

A capybara peeking coyly from behind its giant palm frond.

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Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(259 views)
by Terry Costales

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

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Macaws

(259 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)

(258 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.

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California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)

(258 views)
by Terry Costales

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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Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

(258 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

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Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis )

(258 views)
by Terry Costales

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

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Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)

(258 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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Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus)

(258 views)
by Terry Costales

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

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Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis)

(257 views)
by Terry Costales

I saw many lizards that day. This one was recharging his "solar batteries". When I was a kid we called this type of lizard a blue-belly.

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Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

(257 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.

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