Friday, February 18, 2011

Southern sea otters at Moss Landing State Beach

Southern sea otters at Moss Landing - Pat Ulrich Wildlife Photography

Southern sea otters are such a charasmatic species. They always look like they're having a good time, and those faces are adorable. Moss Landing State Beach on Monterey Bay is one of the best places to see them, since there's almost always a raft of them floating in the estuary right by the breakwall. Here are two shots from a recent trip down to see them.

Relaxed southern sea otters - Pat Ulrich Wildlife Photography

Monday, February 14, 2011

Snuggle up to your Sweetheart -- Happy Valentine's Day!

I figured the most appropriate thing to post for today is a pair of pintails. Here's a male and female snuggling up together on the water. Hope you all have a fun Valentine's!

Nothern pintail couple - Pat Ulrich Wildlife Photography

This lucky duck has her choice of suitors, since all the drakes are lining up to impress her!

Pintail hen has choice of drakes - Pat Ulrich Wildlife Photography

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Sunrise over Point Reyes National Seashore

Sunrise on Limantour Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore

Landscapes are certainly not my strength, although I'm making an effort to get better at them. It can be tricky though since I almost always have my wildlife lens (ie, 200-500mm zoom) on the camera to make sure that I'm ready if an interesting animal appears. But even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while, and it was hard to pass up an opportunity to shoot the gorgeous sunrise light falling on the sandstone cliffs of Drake's Beach in Point Reyes National Seashore in early January. This particular sunrise was one of the most amazing I've ever seen, since most of the park had a fog bank hovering above it, except for the area I was in.

Here's a second view, taken a few minutes earlier from the parking lot area (looking in the opposite direction).

Sunrise over fog, Point Reyes National Seashore

Friday, February 11, 2011

Preening Northern Pintail

I love to photograph northern pintails, and I think the drake's can look especially stunning when they show off those patterns as they preen. So in honor of Valentine's Day coming up on Monday, here's a few shots of this handsome fella getting himself ready to impress the ladies.

Northern pintail drake in a tidal marsh
Northern pintail checking every last feather
Male northern pintail preening in a tidal marsh
Preening northern pintail - Pat Ulrich Wildlife Photography

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Elephant seal display at sunset, Año Nuevo State Reserve

Bull elephant seal displaying at sunset - Pat Ulrich Wildlife Photography

Two images of this male northern elephant seal displaying on the beach at Año Nuevo State Reserve. Not only did we find this lively seal to photograph, but we were also treated to a beautiful California sunset on this early January day as well.

Bull northern elephant seal - Pat Ulrich Wildlife Photography

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View more of these powerful animals in my elephant seals gallery.