2022 01-27 Piedras Blancas
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I arrived at the elephant seal rookery around 8:30 AM. This visit was during the peak breeding and popping season here on the preserve south of the lighthouse. My rough estimate was over 1000 animals, so many that I did not count them due to laziness.
Practically every female had a pup with her. Some were older than others, and one was born right on the spot. I did not see the pup, but all the gull commotion drew my attention to the fresh placental they were feeding on.
Lots of nursing going on. Some pups had milk running down their chins. Others had to contend with gulls trying to steal milk while they nursed. A couple of females were photographed nursing two pups simultaneously.
Cow to calf, cow to bull, and bull to bull interactions did abound. Bulls worked on keeping their territory by chasing off other males and attempting to mount with the females on their beach (which they did not like). Most of the females responded by throwing sand at the bull and squealing their displeasure. Some of the bull fights ended up with one being chased off into the water only to return several hundred yards down the beach.
There were constant overflights by turkey vultures. Among the birds in the sand next to the water, there was an oyster catcher.
This was a great occasion for elephant seal family portraits as well as action shots.
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Read MoreI arrived at the elephant seal rookery around 8:30 AM. This visit was during the peak breeding and popping season here on the preserve south of the lighthouse. My rough estimate was over 1000 animals, so many that I did not count them due to laziness.
Practically every female had a pup with her. Some were older than others, and one was born right on the spot. I did not see the pup, but all the gull commotion drew my attention to the fresh placental they were feeding on.
Lots of nursing going on. Some pups had milk running down their chins. Others had to contend with gulls trying to steal milk while they nursed. A couple of females were photographed nursing two pups simultaneously.
Cow to calf, cow to bull, and bull to bull interactions did abound. Bulls worked on keeping their territory by chasing off other males and attempting to mount with the females on their beach (which they did not like). Most of the females responded by throwing sand at the bull and squealing their displeasure. Some of the bull fights ended up with one being chased off into the water only to return several hundred yards down the beach.
There were constant overflights by turkey vultures. Among the birds in the sand next to the water, there was an oyster catcher.
This was a great occasion for elephant seal family portraits as well as action shots.
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Haematopus bachmani Black oystercatcher on sand beach2022 01-27 Piedras Blancas--003
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Haematopus bachmani Black oystercatcher on sand beach2022 01-27 Piedras Blancas--015
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Haematopus bachmani Black oystercatcher on sand beach2022 01-27 Piedras Blancas-b-008
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