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20100130_Spectacled_Bear.jpg

Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos ornatus)

(239 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.

20100321_Brown_Pelican.jpg

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(237 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.

20100513_California_Sea_Lion_Family_Portrait.jpg

California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)

(237 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.

20100616_Snowy_Egret_Stalked_Great_Egret.jpg

Snowy Egret and Great Egret

(237 views)
by Terry Costales

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

20101208_Leopard_Tortoise_Santa_Barbara_Zoo.jpg

Leopard Tortoise (Geochelone pardalis)

(237 views)
by Terry Costales

A very large, old Leopard Tortoise sunned itself that afternoon.

20100522_Brown_Pelicans_Moss_Landing.jpg

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus)

(237 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.

20100318_Raft_of_Sea_Otter.jpg

Raft of Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

(237 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 . . .

20100521_California_Sea_Lion_Male_Close_Up.jpg

California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)

(237 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.

20100402_Sea_Lion_Swimming.jpg

Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)

(237 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.

20100614_Killdeer_eggs_Oakland_Middle_Harbor_Park.jpg

Killdeer eggs

(236 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.

20100612_Brown_Pelican_Can_Fly.jpg

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis )

(236 views)
by Terry Costales

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

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Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(236 views)
by Terry Costales

The pelican glides effortlessly over the surface of the sea.

20100610_Brown_Pelican_By_fisherman.jpg

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis )

(236 views)
by Terry Costales

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

20100604_Young_Sleepy_California_Sea_Lion.jpg

California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)

(236 views)
by Terry Costales

A very young sea lion was sleepily curious about his observers.

20100604_Demure_California_Sea_Lion.jpg

California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)

(236 views)
by Terry Costales

A female sea lion tried to appear very demure.

20100522_Brown_Pelicans_Perched_Fishing_Equipment.jpg

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus)

(236 views)
by Terry Costales

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

20100719_Western_Fence_Lizard_Tilden_Park.jpg

Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis)

(236 views)
by Terry Costales

The same type of lizard I saw on Sherman Island was found in Tilden Park.

20100322_Brown_Pelican_Head.jpg

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis )

(236 views)
by Terry Costales

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

20100120.jpg

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(236 views)
by Terry Costales

Prehistoric looking pelicans sun and preen in the winter sun.

20100601_Sea_Lion_Expressions.jpg

California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)

(236 views)
by Terry Costales

More of the endless variation of facial expressions you can always find in sea lions.

20100116.jpg

Song Sparrow

(236 views)
by Terry Costales

A song sparrow foraging in the wetlands. A tiny, delicate, feathered, everyday miracle.

20100526_Sea_Otter_Plate_On_Stomach.jpg

Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

(236 views)
by Terry Costales

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

20100319_Sea_Otter_Groomed.jpg

Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

(236 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

20100101.jpg

Macaws

(236 views)
by Terry Costales

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

20100327_Brown_Pelican_Head_On.jpg

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

(236 views)
by Terry Costales

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

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