10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2015

Offshore Sea Life ID Guide: West Coast is designed to be a quick, handy resource for use on whale watching and one-day pelagic trips. It does not include near-shore, coastal species, like Brown Pelican, Elegant Tern, and Harbor Seal. We saw two Blue Whales on our trip, quickly identified by the boat’s crew.

Dolphins 162

Dolphins Porpoises Whales Whaling 162

10,000 Birds

APRIL 17, 2013

Two hours after getting off the boat after checking out Sperm Whales we were off again out to find some albatross. The rocks here are particularly good for New Zealand Fur-seals, but we also saw Variable Oystercatchers , Black-fronted Terns, Caspian Terns , White-fronted Terns, Red-billed Gulls and Kelp Gulls. A New Zealand Fur-seal.

Albatross 171

Albatross New Zealand Fur Seals 171

10,000 Birds

JULY 16, 2013

Sharks, Cape Fur Seals and even Killer Whales will prey on them in the ocean. Obviously, the penguins are more vulnerable on land, hence their propensity to nest on offshore islands. But, although they are extremely agile and quick swimmers, they are not out of danger when they enter the water.

Penguins 245

Penguins South Africa Leopards Sharks 245

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 15, 2011

And, they wear tuxedos, which seem to provide camouflage while they are swimming, where leopard seals, sharks, and other creatures would like to make a meal of them. They are excellent underwater swimmers, can capture prey with their well-adapted beaks, and can hold their breath for very long periods of time. Salas-Gismondi, R., Shawkey, M.,

Penguins 218

Penguins Seals Peru Leopards 218

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2012

Add to this regular sightings of Humpback and Southern Right Whale, inside and outside the bay, as well as year round sightings of Bryde’s Whale and occasional summer reports of Orca in pursuit of dolphin off Cape Point, and you have some idea as to what to expect in the way of the ‘unexpected’.

Albatross 210

Albatross Penguins Dolphins Whales 210

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 29, 2011

There was no pretending this was a whale-watching trip, a ruse that is growing stale anyway. Bald Eagles competed with hauled out Harbor Seals for our attention and we were told that the concentration of eagles was due to the salmon not yet running in the rivers. And quite a view it was!

Washington 187

Washington Protection Puffins Rhinoceros 187

10,000 Birds

JUNE 22, 2011

Helmets are not required as the gulls are not a problem at night, but in addition to rain pants adn waterproof jackets you need gumboots and large quantities of duct tape in order to seal off the various entrances to your clothes, as the Brandt Cormorant chicks have large quantities of lice which crawl everywhere given half a chance.

Breeding 205

Breeding Stray Seals Whales 205

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2011

At sea there are also New Zealand Sea Lions and Southern Right Whales. Abel Tasman is popular for its easy hiking trail along the coast and kayaking, keep an eye out for New Zealand Fur Seals and Spotted Shags. In actuality, you’ve lucked out, you’re near The Catlins , a dramatic area of well preserved temperate rainforest.

New Zealand 157

New Zealand Penguins Sanctuary Fur 157

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 5, 2016

I’ve been on a whale-watching trip in Orange County , twice gone out to Santa Cruz Island , and even visited Protection Island off the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. Pacific White-sided Dolphin with a Fin Whale. (At At least I think that’s a Fin Whale. I’m bad at whales.). I want to see more of them!

Whales 127

Whales Whaling Albatross Sea Lions 127