December 2023

Best Photographs of the Year

Natural History Photography – My Favorite Photos of 2023

2023 brought a trip to dive the coast of South Australia, a little diving at the West End of Catalina and Farnsworth Banks, a few days diving around San Diego and a lot of diving among sea lions in the Coronado Islands in the fall for pups. Tracy and I…

Phil CollaDecember 31, 2023

La Jolla Surf

La Jolla Cove Big Surf December 29, 2023

La Jolla Cove experienced big surf December 29, 2023. Indeed, all of San Diego was getting giant waves for the entire weekend. I was out photographing several times, and the best waves I saw were just before sunset on December 29, straight out from La Jolla Cove. It was getting…

Phil CollaDecember 29, 2023

Birds Bosque del Apache New Mexico

Has Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge Jumped the Shark?

Has Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge jumped the shark? I fear that it may have. The bird photography at Bosque Del Apache NWR can be sensational from dawn to dusk, but the last couple years have felt "off" to me. Here are a few of my observations, contrasting early…

Phil CollaDecember 22, 2023

Birds Kenya Maasai Mara

Lilac-Breasted Roller, Coracias caudatus, Kenya

The Lilac-Breasted Roller (Coracias caudatus) is my favorite bird in Kenya. It is not rare, although it is typically found in trees and large shrubs so if the area you are in is treeless you probably won't find one. It has an elegant profile and is a swift flyer, but…

Phil CollaDecember 20, 2023

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Brown Pelicans in La Jolla, November into December

I photographed in La Jolla many mornings in late November and early December. One of my projects involves California sea lions but, while there have been many on the point, they were not exhibiting the behavior I was looking for, so after giving up on the sea lions I went…

Phil CollaDecember 19, 2023

Islas Coronado Sea Lion Underwater Photography

Young California Sea Lions Underwater in the Coronado Islands, Fall 2023

As I try to do every year, I did some diving at the Coronado Islands in October and November to watch California sea lions (Zalophus californianus). Islas Coronado lie just south of the US border about 10 miles offshore of Tijuana, Mexico. The group of four islands and some rocks…

Phil CollaDecember 12, 2023

Aerial Photography Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla

Scripps Institution of Oceanography Research Pier with Holiday Christmas Lights at Night

Each December, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography Research Pier is adorned with holiday Christmas lights and a tree at the end of the pier. It's a beautiful display. For about as long as I have owned a drone, I have flown it at sunset to capture the lights reflected in…

Phil CollaDecember 11, 2023