Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(281 views)
by Terry Costales

Prehistoric looking pelicans sun and preen in the winter sun.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(280 views)
by Terry Costales

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

Killdeer eggs

(277 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.

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

(274 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.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis )

(273 views)
by Terry Costales

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

Raft of Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

(273 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)

(272 views)
by Terry Costales

The pelican glides effortlessly over the surface of the sea.

California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)

(272 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 )

(272 views)
by Terry Costales

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

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(272 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 californicus)

(272 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.

Raft of Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

(272 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.

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(271 views)
by Terry Costales

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

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(271 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.

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(271 views)
by Terry Costales

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

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(271 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.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(271 views)
by Terry Costales

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

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(271 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.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis )

(271 views)
by Terry Costales

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

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(271 views)
by Terry Costales

A very pregnant Harbor Seal looking quite pleased with herself.

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(271 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.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus)

(271 views)
by Terry Costales

Pelican posed aboard an old fishing boat.

Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

(271 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

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus)

(271 views)
by Terry Costales

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

Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

(271 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.