2016 11-29 Bodega Area and Russian River
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Our first stop was Bodega Bay where we located the resident bull California sea lions and a few large, adult harbor seals. Good close up photographs were had consisting mostly of bull sea lions waiting for fish trimmings. At least 2 harbor seals also came by but did not stay around too long. It looks like the big boys have this territory staked out. As with our first shoot at this location, the sea lions were mostly resting on the surface and slowly swimming back and forth under the wharf. While in the bay itself we had a nice breakfast at a local place. There was good food, a nice view and uncrowded conditions.
Our second stop was at Bodega Head. The upper parking lot seemed a bit far removed from the bluff-tops photo locations and thus we did not stay as it appeared to fit many of the criteria of a car vandalism and theft area. The lower parking lot was right on the bluff and a dozen or more vehicles were parked there with people all around. The dramatic wave action, from the NOAA forecast 11 -17 foot seas, against the sea stacks and cliffs was very nice. Several raptors flew overhead, mostly turkey vultures, a few red-tailed hawks and at least one large northern harrier. One of the people parked here was using this area for the first flight of his brand new Phantom quadcopter. There was not too much wind and he flew the drone both up hand and pretty far out above the waves before landing it nicely in the parking lot.
Moving north from Bodega Headlands, our last photo stop of the day was the Russian River mouth, located north of Jenner. The tide was low and the river was flowing from the recent rain. Two clusters of Pacific harbor seals were using the exposed sand bar to haul out and rest. One group was very dry and contained a around 150 seals. The other was closer to the mouth of the river, got washed out once or twice by sneaker sets, and had about 25 recently-wet animals. Four guys were surfing a right that formed along the edge of what must be a submerged bar with submerged sand from the river sediments.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store.
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Bob Perry
Read MoreOur first stop was Bodega Bay where we located the resident bull California sea lions and a few large, adult harbor seals. Good close up photographs were had consisting mostly of bull sea lions waiting for fish trimmings. At least 2 harbor seals also came by but did not stay around too long. It looks like the big boys have this territory staked out. As with our first shoot at this location, the sea lions were mostly resting on the surface and slowly swimming back and forth under the wharf. While in the bay itself we had a nice breakfast at a local place. There was good food, a nice view and uncrowded conditions.
Our second stop was at Bodega Head. The upper parking lot seemed a bit far removed from the bluff-tops photo locations and thus we did not stay as it appeared to fit many of the criteria of a car vandalism and theft area. The lower parking lot was right on the bluff and a dozen or more vehicles were parked there with people all around. The dramatic wave action, from the NOAA forecast 11 -17 foot seas, against the sea stacks and cliffs was very nice. Several raptors flew overhead, mostly turkey vultures, a few red-tailed hawks and at least one large northern harrier. One of the people parked here was using this area for the first flight of his brand new Phantom quadcopter. There was not too much wind and he flew the drone both up hand and pretty far out above the waves before landing it nicely in the parking lot.
Moving north from Bodega Headlands, our last photo stop of the day was the Russian River mouth, located north of Jenner. The tide was low and the river was flowing from the recent rain. Two clusters of Pacific harbor seals were using the exposed sand bar to haul out and rest. One group was very dry and contained a around 150 seals. The other was closer to the mouth of the river, got washed out once or twice by sneaker sets, and had about 25 recently-wet animals. Four guys were surfing a right that formed along the edge of what must be a submerged bar with submerged sand from the river sediments.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store.
----- ---- --- -- - >< 8>
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Bob Perry
