California

California

Route 66

One our recent desert road trip, we found ourselves on Route 66 for a while. We passed some seriously forlorn-looking old eateries, defunct and barely surviving service stations, and some funky little communities that look like they are ever-so-slowly fading away. It was strange to think that before the interstate…

adminApril 8, 2008

California Death Valley Desert National Parks

Photo of the Devil’s Golf Course, Death Valley National Park

The Devil's Golf Course is a curious assemblage of crystalline salt shapes spread over a large swath of the Death Valley salt pan. This saltpan, which is the lowest point in Death Valley National Park, and indeed the western hemisphere, holds a small amount of subsurface moisture. This water is…

adminApril 6, 2008

California Death Valley Desert National Parks

Photo of Badwater, Death Valley National Park

Badwater is the lowest point in Death Valley National Park, at 282 feet below sea level. Indeed, it is the lowest point in the entire western hemisphere. The Badwater Basin is the catch point for 9000 square miles of drainage, however, there is typically little water here except following winter…

adminApril 5, 2008

California Death Valley Desert National Parks

Photo of Pink Sunrise on Telescope Peak over Badwater

I've been on a few deep scuba dives in my life but relative to sea level this is as deep as I have ever been, and I didn't even need to strap on a scuba tank to get there. Seen here is delicate pre-dawn pink light on a snow covered…

adminApril 4, 2008

San Diego Wildflowers

Photo of California Poppy

Here are a few more photos of California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) near Del Dios, California. I got lucky with the weather, with lots of sun and blue skies the day I shot these. Now we have leaden gray skies and its supposed to be windy and cold this weekend. California…

adminMarch 14, 2008

San Diego Wildflowers

Photos of Eschscholzia californica

This field of dreams is a literal carpet of California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) on the hillsides above Lake Hodges in Del Dios, California. In October this hill was ablaze with the Witch Creek wildfire, one of the worst fires southern California has experienced. Five months later it is ablaze again…

adminMarch 13, 2008

California

Photos of the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve

We went for an easy hike at the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve in Murrieta on Sunday. We hit the reserve shortly after sunrise to be there before the crowds and to give the poppies in Elsinore, which we would see later in the morning, some time to warm in…

adminMarch 12, 2008

San Diego Wildflowers

California Poppies — Bug’s Eye View

More California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) madness. These were shot with a super-turbo-customized tilt-shift-micro-bugeye lens I just received from Canon Covert Services. California poppy plants viewed from the perspective of a bug walking below the bright orange blooms. Image ID: 20539 Species: California poppy, Eschscholzia californica, Eschscholtzia californica Location: Del Dios,…

adminMarch 11, 2008

San Diego Wildflowers

Poppy Explosion

You spins the zoom ring and you takes your chances: California poppies in a blend of rich orange color, blurred by a time exposure. Image ID: 20506 Species: California poppy, Eschscholzia californica, Eschscholtzia californica Location: Del Dios, San Diego, California, USA

adminMarch 6, 2008

California San Diego Wildflowers

Photos of Poppies in San Diego

California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) have been blooming all over the place in the San Diego area, courtesy of the terrible wildfires last fall and the perfectly spaced rainfall of the last two months. Here is a hillside that was burnt in October, now coming alive with spring color. My friend…

adminMarch 5, 2008

California Desert The American Southwest Wildflowers

Photo of Dune Evening Primrose

My favorite desert flower to photograph is the dune evening primrose (Oenothera deltoides). It is so elegant and striking that even a blind monkey with a broken camera can get a good shot of this flower. I've seen them in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park during years of good spring bloom,…

adminMarch 4, 2008

California Desert The American Southwest Wildflowers

Photos of Anza-Borrego Desert Wildflowers

I got out for a quick look at some wildflowers at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park on Sunday morning. I got out there at 6am just as the sun was rising, and by 8am the light had grown so harsh I put my camera away and just hiked around. The bloom…

adminMarch 3, 2008

California Desert The American Southwest

Palm Tree Farm

I wandered around a palm tree farm in the desert, feeling like I was amid some kind of midget forest. The palm fronds were just above my head, and the ground was covered in thick fuzz and trimmings from the trees. Due to the wide lens I used, these trees…

adminMarch 1, 2008

California Harbor Seal Wildlife

Pregnant or Just Plain Fat?

This looks to me like a very pregnant harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi). Its pupping season right now and I'm guessing that she (if she is indeed a she) is about to pop the pup. If in fact it's really a he, then he's a porker. Pacific harbor seal. Image…

adminFebruary 27, 2008

California Harbor Seal Wildlife

Over the Shoulder Glance

One more of the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi) from the past couple days, this time turning to catch a look at some kids. Pacific harbor seal stretches on a sandy beach. Image ID: 20445 Species: Pacific harbor seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi Location: La Jolla, California, USA

adminFebruary 26, 2008

California Harbor Seal Wildlife

Stretch

Same harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi) as yesterday, here caught in the middle of a post-nap stretch. Pacific harbor seal yawns and stretches on a sandy beach. Image ID: 20455 Species: Pacific harbor seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi Location: La Jolla, California, USA

adminFebruary 25, 2008

California Funny Harbor Seal Wildlife

Yawn

This harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi) doesn't look too motivated this morning. Pacific harbor seal yawns and stretches on a sandy beach. Image ID: 20447 Species: Pacific harbor seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi Location: La Jolla, California, USA

adminFebruary 24, 2008

California Harbor Seal Wildlife

Newborn

This tiny harbor seal pup (Phoca vitulina richardsi) is pretty young, it still has its umbilical cord hanging on its belly. Pacific harbor seal, newborn pup with umbilical cord Image ID: 20448 Species: Pacific harbor seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi Location: La Jolla, California, USA

adminFebruary 23, 2008

California Elephant Seal Wildlife

Photo of Elephant Seals Fighting

Another photograph of two male northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) "bulls" fighting on a central California beach. These two started their battle on the sand and eventually took it into the surf. Note how scarred their chests, necks and proboscis (noses) are, the result of years of fighting and biting…

adminFebruary 22, 2008

California Elephant Seal Wildlife

Photo of Elephant Seals Mating

Here is another photograph of a large male northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) forcibly mating with a much smaller female. This bull holds her down with his enormous weight and even bites her into submission. Females elephant seals, when facing such a suitor, generally squak and put up a token…

adminFebruary 21, 2008

California Elephant Seal Wildlife

Rough Sex

In this photograph an adult male northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) mates with a much smaller female. Note that the female is not given much choice in the matter. This is quite typical in elephant seal society, somewhat akin to human society of a few million years ago. The female's…

adminFebruary 20, 2008

California Elephant Seal Wildlife

Photo of Elephant Seals Fighting

Here we see two northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) "bulls" fighting on a central California beach. Male elephant seals haul out of the ocean and establish territories on the beach in December, in advance of females who arrive a few weeks later and among whom they form large harems. Throughout…

adminFebruary 19, 2008

California Elephant Seal Wildlife

Photo of Elephant Seal Bellowing

A photograph of a northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) "bull" bellowing on a central California beach. Other elephant seals can be seen on the sand and in the surf behind him. Bulls (adult males) spend a lot of time bellowing to communicate to surrounding elephant seals, including other bulls, the…

adminFebruary 18, 2008

California Elephant Seal Wildlife

Photo of Bull Elephant Seal Bellowing in Fog

Another photograph of a northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) "bull" bellowing on a foggy central California beach. Partially obscured by coastal morning fog, this male elephant seal rears up on its foreflippers and bellows to intimidate other males and to survey its beach territory. Winter, Central California.Image ID: 20418Species: Elephant…

adminFebruary 17, 2008

California Elephant Seal Wildlife

Munch

Check it out, these are two bull elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) fighting for territory and mating access to females. The bull on the right has got the upper hand, having a firm grip on the proboscis (nose) of the seal on the left. It might look funny but it is…

adminFebruary 16, 2008

California Elephant Seal Wildlife

Weaner

This is a "weaner", a young northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) that has been weaned (is no longer nursing milk from its mother) and is now on its own. In fact its mother has probably already left the beach and is now at far at sea foraging for food. This…

adminFebruary 15, 2008

California Elephant Seal Wildlife

Photo of an Elephant Seal Pup

This northern elephant seal pup (Mirounga angustirostris) looks like it has issues to work out with its mother. Elephant seal mother and pup vocalize to one another constantly, likely to reassure the pup and confirm the maternal identity on a crowded beach. Central California.Image ID: 15421Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostrisLocation:…

adminFebruary 14, 2008

California Elephant Seal Wildlife

Crowded Beach

Here we see part of the burgeoning Piedras Blancas colony of northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) crowding the beach. In actuality this is about half of the animals that were here at the peak, a few weeks earlier. Many of the females have already weaned there pups (or lost them…

adminFebruary 13, 2008

California Elephant Seal Wildlife

Bull Fog

I arrived at the elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) rookery before sunrise and walked out in heavy fog, not able to even see the water. Gradually the fog burned off as the sun appeared and I could start to see some of the seals. Here is a big bull splayed out…

adminFebruary 12, 2008

Central Coast

Photo of McWay Falls, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

I stopped for a bit in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in Big Sur, to make the short walk to McWay Falls. I walked over to the bluff you see above and to the right of the falls, the one with the trees overlooking the ocean. There is a small…

adminFebruary 11, 2008

Central Coast

Photos of Piedras Blancas Lighthouse

The Piedras Blancas lighthouse, which sits on BLM land just north of San Simeon and Hearst Castle in central California, originally stood 115 feet tall when it was completed in 1875. It is one of only two coastline "tall-style" lighthouses on the California coast, the other being at Point Arena.…

adminFebruary 10, 2008

California Morro Bay

Photo of Sea Otter Mother and Pup

On my way back down the coast from Big Sur I made a stop in Morro Bay for a bite, and to take a quick look in the harbor for interesting fishing boats, birds or otters. I didn't see any good birds, and the light was overcast which made for…

adminFebruary 9, 2008

La Jolla Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Photo of a Brown Pelican Preening

Here is a California brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) preening. Using it's long bill, the pelican spreads preen oil from its uropygial gland (near its tail) and spreads it over its wings and head. The preen oil helps to keep the feathers clean and dry. Check out the bird's coloration, it…

adminFebruary 8, 2008

California Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Photo of a Pelican in Flight

Yet another photo of a pelican in flight. This California brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is seen soaring over the cliffs looking for a place to land and preen in the warm sun. See our Guide to Photographing Pelicans in La Jolla. Brown pelican in flight. The wingspan of the brown…

adminFebruary 7, 2008

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla Seascapes

Abstract Water Photo

This abstract water photograph is a blurred time exposure of the ocean surface in La Jolla. Abstract colors and water patterns on the ocean surface. Image ID: 20343

adminFebruary 6, 2008

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla San Diego Seascapes

Photo of La Jolla Cove at Sunrise

Check out the deep pink skies, it was a super sunrise the morning I shot this. Probably due to smog or something. This is famous La Jolla Cove, one of the jewels of San Diego and home to good diving and snorkling, bird and whale watching, and rough-water swimming. It…

adminFebruary 4, 2008

La Jolla Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Pelican Bluff at Sunrise

This is the bluff on which the bird photographers take their photos of the California brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) in their breeding plumage. Note the distinct absence of photographers -- this is unusual and due to the early hour (well before sunrise). I like to get to the bluff very…

adminFebruary 3, 2008

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla

Photo of La Jolla Cave at Sunrise

The biggest of the caves in La Jolla is seen here at sunrise. The other caves are around to the right. Atop this sandstone bluff are found many seabirds, particularly in winter when California brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) and cormorants can be seen here in their breeding plumage. Few birds…

adminFebruary 2, 2008

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla San Diego Seascapes

Photo of the La Jolla Cliffs at Sunrise

The La Jolla Cliffs early in the morning, under a pink sunrise. Marine Room restaurant is on the far left, and the famous caves are seen at the base of the cliffs. Check out the thousands of cormorants resting on the cliffs. They will eventually fly out to forage on…

adminFebruary 1, 2008

California Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Pelican Portraits

More photographs of the California race of brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) from a recent morning in La Jolla, between storms. These show the bright red and olive colors that the large gular throat pouch takes on, as well as the dark brown hind neck and yellow head feathers, that are…

adminJanuary 30, 2008

Recent Posts

Categories

Archives