After a bit of internet research, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that I believe this pretty pinniped is a harbor seal.* We found her resting on a beach just north of Half Moon Bay, California, where she and maybe fifty of her relatives had come to shore. While our goal for the sojourn was to explore the tide pools, it was the seals that caught our attention as they lumped across the beaches and frolicked in the ocean. Because they are wild animals and need their space, we kept our distance. I’ve never loved my zoom lens more.
*UPDATE: I just heard back from a wonderful man at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California. I wrote to him to ask if my Googling had turned up the correct info. He verified that the adorable pinniped above is indeed a harbor seal. By the way, if you are ever in the area I highly recommend the aquarium. We spent hours there just absorbing everything. Try to go during non-peak times, though, because it’s a pretty popular place (and for good reason).
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- Seal Beach « Blog Archive « Playing with Pixels - [...] As promised, another picture of the alleged harbor seals. Boy do these guys know how to relax! It makes ...
It’s posing for you, looking right into the camera
Adorable!
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What a nice catch here, Caryn! Your composition is really strong having the seal featured in the lower right corner and showing a lot of its surroundings. The seals look is so nice, too.
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Hi Caryn! This is a wonderful shot. Somehow it reminds me of a documentary that really made me so sad. It was about baby seals being hunted and skinned alive, so people can wear them. I am sure the seals that you saw were safe and happy.
Thanks for visiting Norwich Daily Photo and leaving your comments. Have a good week.
joy
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Very nice capture. It is great that you respected them no to disturb. The seal looks ‘smiling’. Very cute.
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The zoom lens always comes in handy on places like this…love the shot, great composition, I have seen a few in their natural environment in The Netherlands, it are beautiful animals.
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My biggest question, Caryn, is if this is an albino??? I’m guessing there aren’t many like it?? It sure is playing coy with you.
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Wow, I can’t believe you got this…great shot.
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nice capture…
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A fine image of this seal and its environment. I think it is good not to disturb the seals in get a shot. You did very well with the zoom!
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A wonderful portrait of such a beautiful creature. Love it
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Have never seen one of these before. Beautifully captured!!!
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This feels like a sad expression!
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Une superbe bête traduite par une extraordinaire photo !
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i just had to say that i also adore the SF aquarium! am hoping there will be some pictures from there, too….?
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This is a gorgeous shot!
!
And glad you could find out what this cutie is
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une superbe prise photographie
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très impressionnante cette photo! j’aime beaucoup
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such lovely and sweet creatures
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A well composed capture of a beautiful seal.
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Very happy seal, even she has turned to you I take a good photo!
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A beautiful scenery with this wonderul looking guy.
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