Raft of Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

(108 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 . . .

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

(107 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.

Killdeer eggs

(107 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.

Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

(106 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.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus)

(106 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.

California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)

(105 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.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(105 views)
by Terry Costales

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

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(105 views)
by Terry Costales

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

Mirror catches unwary boy in the act

(105 views)
by Bryan Costales

Today's episode continues yesterday's story Doug Goshkin heard a boom from the back of the railroad museum. Because he was a kid, he looked around to see if his folks had heard the boom. But they hadn't, or didn't seem to, because they kept on arguing. Doug wandered toward the back of the museum to see what made the noise. To his annoyance, his younger brother, Joey, trailed along. "Go back," Doug said. "No," Joey said. "Stay in sight," his mother called from behind. Doug arrived at the b . . .

Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)

(105 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.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(105 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.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis )

(105 views)
by Terry Costales

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

Statue of a hug near the carriage ride

(105 views)
by Bryan Costales

Creek Fire had been walking since he had become a man. His hunting dog, Pebble, trotted along, always on the side opposite his walking staff. Creek had been traveling for two years and had visited dozens of villages. Because Creek had also been trying to map his travels, he soon discovered that all villages in his world were laid out on a perfectly square grid. He'd once counted his steps and decided one village was always fifty thousand steps from the next. Always seven day's travel by foot. . . .

Wilson's Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla )

(104 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.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus)

(104 views)
by Terry Costales

Pelican posed aboard an old fishing boat.

Snowy Egret and Great Egret

(104 views)
by Terry Costales

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

Great Egret (Ardea alba)

(104 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.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus)

(104 views)
by Terry Costales

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

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(104 views)
by Terry Costales

Prehistoric looking pelicans sun and preen in the winter sun.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(104 views)
by Terry Costales

The pelican glides effortlessly over the surface of the sea.

Reproduction of rare broken tablet

(104 views)
by Bryan Costales

Today's episode continues yesterday's story Creek walked into the cool, shaded room to see how Pebble was doing. The old dog was six hundred years old, and near the end of his life. He had been running a fever for the past couple days. Young women in colorful robes worked in an endless stream. The brought in fresh cloths soaked in alcohol to cool Pebble's paws, and removed the old spent cloths. Creek knelt near his old friend and scratched him behind his ears. Pebble opened his eyes and sa . . .

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis )

(104 views)
by Terry Costales

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

That old dog loved to play guitar and sing

(104 views)
by Bryan Costales

Today's episode continues yesterday's story Creek Fire and his dog Pebble had descended more stairs than either of them had ever seen in their entire lives. They had found the source of the boom the day before, a huge hole in the ground with stairs leading down into a dark interior. They reached a broad landing, dim but for daylight filtering down from the opening far above. The stairs and landing were damp as if steam had recently condensed on them. "A place to rest and eat some jerky," Cr . . .

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis )

(104 views)
by Terry Costales

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

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(104 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.