The last post of 2011

On December 23rd I got to see something that I have been wanting to see for years. It was at the top of my "to see" list. I saw an attack on gray whales by a pod of orcas. There were 4 orcas (and one was a calf) and 2 adult gray whales. The numbers were certainly in favor of the grays and they did win the battle.

I was working at the North end of our study range at Sea Lion Cove and waiting for a sleeping otter to show me her flipper tags. She was dead asleep and I figured I would be there a while so I pulled my camera out to take some hummingbird photos. (previous posts have photos of hummingbirds from this very spot!) While looking offshore I was thinking to myself, this feels like and orca kind of day. The ocean was flat and you could see for miles. About 5 minutes after I thought about the orcas I saw some splashing close to shore. I looked down and saw 2 gray whales on their backs. I thought maybe they were mating. Although most grey whale mating behavior happens far south of us in Baja Mexico, I have seen mating along their travel route a few times.
I started taking some photos of them and then realized there was a dolphin dorsal fin right by the gray's head. I looked a little closer and saw the white saddle patch (a telling characteristic of orcas). I kept taking photos, but was so excited that I was jumping up and down and actually for once, hoping that tourists would stop and I could tell them what was going on. The encounter only lasted about 7 minutes and the orca pod started swimming south and offshore. The grays were underwater for a long time and appeared to 'wrangle up' some more whales that were on their way south. Soon there were 5 grays all swimming together within 200 meters of shore- often through the kelp. Just south of their current location is a deep canyon and this is where it would be easiest for orcas to attack. Often when the mothers and calves are traveling north there are attacks in the deep canyons off Monterey and Carmel.

After the orcas swam offshore, I believe they got a sea lion (a little easier breakfast option that a 40 foot long gray whale) and I took some photos but at this point they were about a mile offshore so the quality is not as good.

Gray whale on its back with orcas swimming underneath.

Mom and calf orca on the left side, one orca underwater and the gray whale coming up for air.

Mom and calf orca on the left, two gray whales up for air.

gray whale spouting

gray whale fluke.

After the attack the grays started back south but were swimming very close to one another and close to shore.

Orca breaching (about a mile offshore)

Orca slapping her tail.

Orca- Possibly with a sea lion, they were about a mile offshore of Torre canyon.

The sunset on my birthday...

These photos were taken at Hole in the Wall beach (aptly named for the big hole you see below!) about 7 miles north of Santa Cruz on December 9th. I took my birthday to catch up on errands and take a bunch of photos. It was not the "perfect sunset day" but I am really happy with the two photos below.

Hole in the wall at 'hole in the wall' beach

The sun setting with Nicole roaming the beach and Venus shining in the sky. (I am not talking about myself in the 3rd person, different Nicole!)

December: cold and sunny!

With very few exceptions this month, I haven't had a lot of time to go out and take photos. Yesterday UI got some great photos while working, but they will be posted on monday... gotta space them out a bit!

The combination of travel, work and bad weather have given me very few opportunities over the past few months to get out with my camera. Today there will be a few birds from Big Sur and a few otters from Monterey along with a landscape shot of the wonderful fall sunsets here in California.


These are both photos of a female Anna's hummingbird at Sea Lion Cove in Big Sur.

 

These are two female buffleheads taking off at Jetty Road in Moss Landing on December 9th.

 

These photos were also taken on December 9th at the harbor in Monterey. It is a mom and small pup eating fat innkeeper worms.

 

And last, I leave you with a sunset that made me remember why I absolutely love living along the coast in California. This was taken October 16th at Monastery beach in Carmel. There was an annoying moment that went along with this photo, but I prefer to just look at the pretty colors and forget the stupid teenagers that I encountered that day!

A little here, A little there

This is a blog post that sadly got overlooked. It should have been posted in October.

First, I will start with the wonderful Big Sur fog. This was taken on Nacimiento Road just after sunrise on September 15th (I know, I am way behind on posting photos!). The ocean is under that big fog blanket.

 

Next are a few terrestrial creatures.  These photos are from the same day, but farther inland near Lake Nacimiento.

 The next photo is of a juvenile white-tailed kite on a power line along Jolon Road. (Near King City, CA)

 

Next are a few yellow-billed magpies also along Jolon Road.