Tag Archives: California Sea Lions

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Bill Oxford was photographing Sea Lions off Biehler Point on The Sea Ranch this past week. There was a group of Sea Lions rafting together nearby. Several peeled off and decided to surf the big waves. The first photo show three Sea Lions. I can almost hear their glee!

Another of Bill's great photos of this event will be in tomorrow's Independent Coast Observer in my Mendonoma Sightings column.What? You don't get the paper? You can sign up at http://www.mendonoma.com

Were Sea Lions the first surfers? Could be! But there are other creatures who love to surf, including Bottlenose Dolphins and Western Gulls. And then there are the two-legged variety. Rozanne Rapozo photographed this surfer off the mouth of the Gualala River, not a place we usually see surfers!

Thanks to Bill and Rozanne for allowing me to share their photos with you here. You can see more of Bill's photography, which includes weddings, at his website: https://www.billoxford.com/

Today, 1/31/24 Wednesday, the Mendonoma Coast...and much of California...has been hit by a whopper of a storm. Rain totals vary greatly depending on location. As I type this, Rick's and my gauge is at 3.14 inches and it's still raining. I've had reports of over six inches on the Gualala Ridge. It's a gully washer!

 

 

 

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Paul and Jackie Brewer have a front row seat to watch for whales from their Gualala home. Last week a pod of Humpback Whales was seen feeding. Here you can see the spouts of three Humpbacks.

And here is the tail of a Humpback Whale.

In this next photo you can see another tail photo but there's a line of what Paul thought might be fish. Upon closer examination, whale expert Scott Mercer determined they were "many, many California Sea Lions." There must have been a LOT of forage fish in the ocean.

More whales were seen yesterday, including two spouts seen by me as Rick and I drove home from Santa Rosa. The spouts were seen south of Fort Ross. It never gets old see a whale...never.

Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.capturingnatureswonders.com/

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Allen Vinson had his camera ready when a couple of CA Sea Lions decided to play in the ocean. This first photo shows a small raft of Sea Lions on the left and the two playful Sea Lions on the right.

A raft on the left and playful Sea Lions on the right by Allen Vinson

Here are two more photos of the Sea Lions at play.

Sea Lions playing by Allen Vinson Sea Lions playing 2 by Allen Vinson

Looks pretty darn fun to me! Thanks to Allen for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

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Peter Cracknell spotted three or four Orcas, Killer Whales, quite close in on Saturday afternoon. Earlier that day he had photographed a large group of California Sea Lions rafting. Orcas do prey on Sea Lions. Here is a photo of one of the Orcas, heading north.

Orca by Peter Cracknell

Here is a close-up photo Tom Eckles took from a pelagic trip of a male and female Orca. The male has the taller dorsal fin.

Orcas by Tom Eckles

I am also happy to report that the first Gray Whales have been spotted, headed south.

Thanks to Peter and Tom for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Tom's photography, here is his website: www.tomeckles.com

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John Batchelder noticed the tall dorsal fin indicative of an Orca, aka Killer Whale. Then he saw a second one. California Sea Lions had been seen rafting in the same area two days earlier.

 Orcas aren't Whales - they are actually Dolphins, albeit BIG ones!

Below you will see the Sea Lions John photographed two days before the Orcas showed up.

Orcas hunt Sea Lions, among other large creatures of the sea. Thanks to John for allowing me to share his photos with you here.