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20100130_Spectacled_Bear.jpg

Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos ornatus)

(138 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.

20101223_Lion_Contemplated_Freedom_Santa_Barbara_Zoo.jpg

Lion (Panthera leo)

(138 views)
by Terry Costales

The King contemplated freedom.

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Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(138 views)
by Terry Costales

The pelican glides effortlessly over the surface of the sea.

20100602_Brown_Pelican_On_Fishing_Boat.jpg

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus)

(138 views)
by Terry Costales

Pelican posed aboard an old fishing boat.

20100531_Harbor_Seals_Up_Close.jpg

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(137 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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Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(137 views)
by Terry Costales

Prehistoric looking pelicans sun and preen in the winter sun.

20100522_Brown_Pelicans_Moss_Landing.jpg

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus)

(137 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.

20100526_Sea_Otter_Plate_On_Stomach.jpg

Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

(137 views)
by Terry Costales

The otter balanced his "plate" on his stomach while enjoying that last little morsel.

20100522_Brown_Pelicans_Perched_Fishing_Equipment.jpg

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus)

(137 views)
by Terry Costales

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

20100521_California_Sea_Lion_Male_Close_Up.jpg

California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)

(137 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.

20101212_Capybara_Santa_Barbara_Zoo.jpg

Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)

(137 views)
by Terry Costales

This Capybara needs a good brushing.

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Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis )

(137 views)
by Terry Costales

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

20100616_Snowy_Egret_Stalked_Great_Egret.jpg

Snowy Egret and Great Egret

(137 views)
by Terry Costales

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

20101211_Capybara_Santa_Barbara_Zoo.jpg

Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)

(137 views)
by Terry Costales

Catching the afternoon sun, the master of the grasses rests in its domain.

20101222_Camouflaged_Lion_Santa_Barbara_Zoo.jpg

Lion (Panthera leo)

(137 views)
by Terry Costales

The lion demonstrated camouflage.

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Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(137 views)
by Terry Costales

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

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Macaws

(137 views)
by Terry Costales

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

20101202_Blue_and_Gold_Macaw_Santa_Barbara_Zoo.jpg

Blue-and-Gold Macaw (Ara ararauna)

(136 views)
by Terry Costales

A loud, large, parrot looking quite handsome.

20101213_Coy_Capybara_Santa_Barbara_Zoo.jpg

Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)

(136 views)
by Terry Costales

A capybara peeking coyly from behind its giant palm frond.

20100318_Raft_of_Sea_Otter.jpg

Raft of Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

(136 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 . . .

20101108.jpg

Black-crowned Night Heron

(136 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.

20100530_Harbor_Seal_Big_Teeth.jpg

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(136 views)
by Terry Costales

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

20100201_Crow.jpg

Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

(136 views)
by Terry Costales

Looking at this crow's feet you can really see the dinosaur common ancestor. I'm grateful most birds are small as I wouldn't want to try to photograph a crow the size of a T-rex.

20100323_Harbor_Seal.jpg

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

(136 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.

20100519_California_Sea_Lion_Elkhorn_Slough.jpg

California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)

(136 views)
by Terry Costales

A very large male sea lion with a much smaller female.

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