Monthly Archives: March 2019
Seal bonding…
A mother and a new-born Harbor Seal recognize each other by the unique smell of each other’s breath…but it has to be learned and you can observe mother and child nose to nose soon after birth and repeatedly over the first few hours of life exchanging breaths. Later, when the pups are in the water and crying for their mothers, you will see adults approach the pup and check the breath to see if it is theirs. Adult females can be quite aggressive when approached by a pup that does not have the right smell. I always enjoy these nose to nose shots. This was taken on the outside of the seawall at the Children’s Pool in La Jolla Cove, in La Jolla, California. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds in flight and action modifications. 1/1000 @ f4 @ ISO 250. Processed in Polarr.
Bluebird!
I don’t seem to be able to post a photo of a bluebird…this is a Western Bluebird from above the tide pools at Cabrillo National Monument at the tip of Point Loma in San Diego, California…without “zippity do da” breaking out in my head. And then it hangs there for an hour or more, and I find my self relapsing at odd moments all day. Zippity do da day! I still like bluebirds though. This one is caught against a patch of California Poppies for extra-special treat. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. 1/800th @ f4 @ ISO 100. Processed in Polarr.
Sea Lions
At the other end of La Jolla Cove from Children’s Pool and the pupping Harbor Seals, there is a good sized colony of Sea Lions. This group of adolescents was having a mild altercation over the occupation of some rocks above the shoreline. It is rare to see an adult sea lion without scars…so these confrontations do get more violent as the sea lions mature. La Jolla Cove, California. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds in flight and action modifications. 1/1000th @ f4 @ ISO 160. -.3 EV. Processed in Polarr.
Seal Pup
This is a newborn Harbor Seal pup, only minutes old. We did not see it born so I am not sure, but it is certainly less then an hour old. We did watch a mother in labor for over an hour, but had to leave before she pupped. The water just in front of the seawall at Children’s Pool in La Jolla Cove (California) is calm, and crystal clear, behind a barrier of natural rock outcrops, and the mother Harbor Seals gather there to give birth, nurse, and give their pups a start in relative safety. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds in flight and action modifications. 1/1000th @ f4 @ ISO 1600. Processed in Polarr.
Curiosity, with a hint of challenge: Western Grebe
While we were watching Western and Clark’s Grebes at Lake Hodges, at the north edge of San Diego, this Western came in close to shore, apparently to see what we were doing, and to make sure we were no threat. It is mating season and this is, again apparently, a territorial display. With those red eyes, it does not take much to make a grebe intimidating. 🙂 Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds in flight and action modifications. 1/1000th @ f4 @ ISO 160. -.3EV. Processed in Polarr and assembled in FrameMagic.
Coming in! Pelican
Standing on the tops of the cliffs at La Jolla Cove in California, you often get to photograph Brown Pelicans in the air from above. In the top panel this bird was already coming in to land in the rookery. You can see the flared tail and the curve of the wings. The second shot is full braking just before touchdown. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds in flight and action modifications. 1/1000th and 1/1250th @ f4 @ ISO 100. -1EV. Processed in Polarr.
Desert Lily
Among the whole wonderful display of desert wildflowers at Anza Borrego Desert this season…at least a mini super-bloom year, and perhaps a full blown super-bloom…the Desert Lily is among my favorites. This is the image I imagined when I ordered the ultra wide landscape kit last month (among others). Off SR22 in the Anza Borrego badlands east of Borrego Springs. In-camera HDR. Sony a5100, 16mm f2.8 pancake with the Ultra Wide converter for 18mm equivalent field of view. Processed in Polarr.
Courting Grebes
We went to Lake Hodges to see the courting Western and Clark’s Grebes. These two are Western and are doing the last act of the courting ritual before actually getting up and running, or “rushing” as it is called, across the water. This pair actually decided not to rush, but they got as far as flinging water at each other with their bills. San Diego River Park at Lake Hodges, Sony RX10iv at 600mm. My birds in flight and action modifications to Program mode. 1/1000th @ f4 @ ISO 200. Processed in Polarr.
Allen’s Hummingbird
This is apparently a good year for Allen’s Hummingbirds in San Diego, California. On our first day here, someone told my daughter Sally that they are “everywhere”, and that certainly has been our experience. In past years the Anna’s predominated, and we have seen a few Anna’s right were I expected to see. them…along the trail above the marsh at Formosa Slough for instance, where I have seen them every visit to San Diego…but there were also Allen’s there…which is a first for me in all they years I have been coming to the San Diego Birding Festival. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. +2 EV (to compensate for the backlight). Processed in Polarr.
Flying the red flag!
Here’s something you don’t see everyday, even if you spend a lot of time at breeding Brown Pelican rookeries…in fact, in all my visits to La Jolla Cove in La Jolla, California over many years, this is the first time I have seen it. This bird had just landed and was, maybe, displaying its pouch to establish territory…at least enough territory to put down its feet in the crowded colony. That red! Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. 1/640th @ f4 @ ISO 100. Processed in Polarr.