Image
Elkhorn Slough Otter

Closeup of the head
(1 of 18) (9072 views)

./Sea_Otter_Elkhorn_Slough_20100312_100326_7587TNT.jpg

A closeup of the otter's head with its eyes shut.


Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:26 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100326_7587TNT
Add a comment or report a mistake

Swimming nose back
(2 of 18) (9116 views)

./Sea_Otter_Elkhorn_Slough_20100312_100322_2800BCX.jpg

This otter was swimming backward with its nose leaned back in the direction of travel.


Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:22 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100322_2800BCX
Add a comment or report a mistake

Grooming self
(3 of 18) (9128 views)

./Sea_Otter_Elkhorn_Slough_20100312_100324_7586TNT.jpg

Otters groom themselves to clean food off and to force bubbles into their coats as an aid to bouyancy.


Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:24 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100324_7586TNT
Add a comment or report a mistake

Wider shot
(4 of 18) (9088 views)

./Sea_Otter_Elkhorn_Slough_20100312_100326_2801BCX.jpg

A wider shot of the same otter grooming itself.


Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:26 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100326_2801BCX
Add a comment or report a mistake

Floating face up
(5 of 18) (14029 views)

./Sea_Otter_Elkhorn_Slough_20100312_100230_7583TNT.jpg

An otter floats face up to groom and to eat. This particular otter was doing neither at the moment.


Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:02:30 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100230_7583TNT
Add a comment or report a mistake

The eyes open
(6 of 18) (9113 views)

./Sea_Otter_Elkhorn_Slough_20100312_100328_7588BCX.jpg

A closeup of the otter's head as its eyes began to open.


Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:28 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100328_7588BCX
Add a comment or report a mistake

Began to swim again
(7 of 18) (9070 views)

./Sea_Otter_Elkhorn_Slough_20100312_100330_7589TNT.jpg

A closeup of the otter as it tilted its head back and began to swim again.


Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:30 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100330_7589TNT
Add a comment or report a mistake

Swimming away
(8 of 18) (9027 views)

./Sea_Otter_Elkhorn_Slough_20100312_100332_2803BCX.jpg

Wide shot of the same otter swimming away.


Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:32 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100332_2803BCX
Add a comment or report a mistake

Swimming away close up
(9 of 18) (9078 views)

./Sea_Otter_Elkhorn_Slough_20100312_100332_7590TNT.jpg

Close up of the same otter swimming away.


Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:32 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100332_7590TNT
Add a comment or report a mistake

Faced forward
(10 of 18) (9068 views)

./Sea_Otter_Elkhorn_Slough_20100312_100334_7591TNT.jpg

The otter rotated (rolled) its head to face forward.


Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:34 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100334_7591TNT
Add a comment or report a mistake

Face up again
(11 of 18) (9071 views)

./Sea_Otter_Elkhorn_Slough_20100312_100336_2804BCX.jpg

A wide shot of the same otter seconds later face up again.


Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:36 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100336_2804BCX
Add a comment or report a mistake

Rolled under water
(12 of 18) (9055 views)

./Sea_Otter_Elkhorn_Slough_20100312_100350_7592TNT.jpg

The otter rolled completely over to become mostly under water.


Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:50 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100350_7592TNT
Add a comment or report a mistake

Otter surfaced again
(13 of 18) (9039 views)

./Sea_Otter_Elkhorn_Slough_20100312_100350_7593TNT.jpg

The otter surfaced again with eyes shut.


Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:50 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100350_7593TNT
Add a comment or report a mistake

Curled with feet touching face
(14 of 18) (9056 views)

./Sea_Otter_Elkhorn_Slough_20100312_100352_7594TNT.jpg

This otter surfaced with its tail touching its face.


Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:52 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100352_7594TNT
Add a comment or report a mistake

Amid a swirl of water
(15 of 18) (9095 views)

./Sea_Otter_Elkhorn_Slough_20100312_100354_7594TNT.jpg

The otter surfaced amid a swirl of water.


Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:03:54 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100354_7594TNT
Add a comment or report a mistake

Submerged again
(16 of 18) (9134 views)

./Sea_Otter_Elkhorn_Slough_20100312_100402_7596TNT.jpg

The otter submerged again as part of a leisurly roll.


Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:04:02 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100402_7596TNT
Add a comment or report a mistake

Gooming again
(17 of 18) (9025 views)

./Sea_Otter_Elkhorn_Slough_20100312_100432_2807BCX.jpg

On its back and grooming itself again.


Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:04:32 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100432_2807BCX
Add a comment or report a mistake

Off away again
(18 of 18) (9051 views)

./Sea_Otter_Elkhorn_Slough_20100312_100436_7597TNT.jpg

The otter departed by swimming away and diving.


Elkhorn Slough Otter   •  Elkhorn Slough Safari, Moss Landing, California   •  (Photo posted Thursday 20 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 10:04:36 Friday 12 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #100436_7597TNT
Add a comment or report a mistake


Subscribe to our mailing list for a Sunday summary of the week's stories.
* indicates required
Email Format
home contact topic guide top 25 photos video writing blogs upload terms privacy