San Diego photos

Brown Pelican Performs a Head Throw Lit By Sun on Pedestal Rock, dark ocean from storm clouds on horizon.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 39820  

Study of a California brown pelican in winter breeding plumage, yellow head, red and olive throat, pink skin around the eye, brown hind neck with some white neck side detail.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 39870  

Brandt's Cormorant Flying in La Jolla, lit by early morning sun, non-breeding plumage.
Species: Brandt's Cormorant, Phalacrocorax penicillatus
Image ID: 39882  

Perfect Brown Pelican Head Throw in Winter Breeding Plumage, pelican leans its head way back to stretch its throat pounch and neck.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis
Image ID: 39884  

A California Sea Lion Bodysurfing on a Big Wave at La Jolla Cove.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 40050  
Panorama dimensions: 5244 x 8390

This California Brown Pelican has its wings spread full wide as it flies over the ocean. The wingspan of the brown pelican can reach 7 feet wide.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 40065  

Endangered Brown Pelican Flying with Wings Spread Ready to Land. The brown pelican's wingspan can reach 7 feet.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 40094  

California sea lion nuzzles a huge adult male bull. This is unusual behavior but the bull accepted the tiny pup and did not push it away or injure it.
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 40178  

Royal Tern in flight, adult breeding plumage with black head cap.
Species: Royal Tern, Sterna maxima, Thalasseus maximus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 40241  

Whimbrel Foraging Amidst Spring Wildflowers on Coast Walk, La Jolla.
Species: Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 40256  

California Brown pelican in flight, soaring along sea cliffs above the ocean in La Jolla, California. The wingspan of the brown pelican is over 7 feet wide. The California race of the brown pelican holds endangered species status.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Image ID: 37412  

California sea lion body surfing on large waves, shorebreak, La Jolla.
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 37529  

California sea lion body surfing on large waves, shorebreak, La Jolla.
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 37532  

California sea lion body surfing on large waves, shorebreak, La Jolla. Sea lions are the original body surfers and still the best.
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 37533  

California Brown Pelican claps its jaws, sometimes rapidly several times, perhaps to dislodge debris or simply because its fun and feels good. This is not the same as the "yawn" that precedes a head throw. Adult winter breeding plumage with brown hind-neck.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38590  

Royal Tern in flight, adult non-breeding plumage, La Jolla.
Species: Royal tern, Sterna maxima, Thalasseus maximus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38669  

Adult California brown pelican in transition from non-breeding to breeding winter plumage. Note the brown hind neck of a breeding brown pelican is just filling in. This pelican already displays the red and olive throat and white and yellow head feathers of an adult winter brown pelican.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38679  

California brown pelican orange morph, preening its feathers while on cliffs over the ocean. While this adult brown pelican exhibits the brown hind neck of a breeding adult, it displays an unusual orange throat rather than the more typical red.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38688  

Spectacular Brown Pelican Head Throw Display. This California brown pelican extends its head and bill up and back, stretching its neck and pouch in a behavior known as a head throw or bill throw. Adult winter breeding plumage. Pelican yoga, High Mountain pose, Tadasan.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38691  

Marichyasana, sage twist pose, pelican yoga. Brown pelican doing yoga, actually its preening, bending its neck back to spread preen oil on the back of the head and neck, likely second winter coloration.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38805  

California Brown Pelican Flying over the Ocean, wings outstretch, with a few other pelicans in the background.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38807  

California Brown Pelican banking and turning as it flies over the ocean.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38809  

A perfect Brown Pelican Head Throw with Distant Ocean in Background, bending over backwards, stretching its neck and gular pouch, winter adult breeding plumage coloration.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38879  

Young brown pelican performing yoga Warrior Three or Half Moon Pose Virabhadrasana, on one leg with wings raised and head tipped forward. Possible second or third year winter plumage, immature.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38881  

Spectacular Sunrise over San Diego Bay and Downtown San Diego. Mount San Miguel and Mount Lyons in the distance. Shelter Island in the foreground. Viewed from Point Loma.
Image ID: 38892  
Panorama dimensions: 8187 x 15600

Pelican in Flight over Huge Waves in La Jolla, foamy ocean background, adult winter breeding plumage, wings spread wide.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38914  

Three California sea lions bodysurf together, suspended in the face of a big wave, Boomer Beach, La Jolla.
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38991  

California sea lions bodysurfing and leaping way out of the water, in La Jolla at Boomer Beach.
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38998  

Harbor Seal Stares Down a Western Seagull.
Species: Pacific harbor seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 39062