California coast

California's Big Sur coast:



Monterey Bay:








Hearst Castle:


Elephant Seal colony near the Hearst Castle:








Risso's Dolphins in Monterey Bay:


This fin belongs to a sperm whale, seen on a birding cruise near Monterey Bay. They are very rare, especially this close to the coast.


The the 30+ years that our guide took people on these birding trips, this is only the second sperm whale she saw. The captain on the ship has been on the ocean for 26 years, and this was his first one.


The sperm whale's blow is much shorter and skewed to the left - apparently very distinctive among all the whales:


Moving on the Los Angeles, and invasive species. One of them is the Mitred Parakeet, originally from South America:


They've now colonized Temple City and a number of other neighborhoods in LA:


Originally from Southeast Asia, the Scaly-Breasted Munia feels so at home in LA that it has been officially entered into the American bird species list:


This is a Pin-Tailed Whydah. Originally from Africa, this Los Angeles park bird is most likely an escapee from captivity.


And some other wildlife from California:

Alaska birds 2

There is nothing more Alaskan that a sight of a bald eagle on an iceberg:





A Horned Puffin in a middle of a colony:




The puffins are almost too fat to fly. They need a long runway to get aloft. According to our captain, sometimes when they eat too much, they have stay around in the water until they are light enough to fly again.


This one made it to the air - eventually.


Not all colonies are for birds only.


Black-legged Kittiwake colony:


A Common Merganser with her brood:


White-winged Crossbill. Its billed is indeed crossed - to better extract pine seeds from the conifers:


A Gray Jay is spoiled for choice for its lunch:


Yellow-rumped Warbler:


Steller's Jay:


Northwestern Crow - a fatter and rasper version of the common American Crow we get everywhere else:


Mew Gulls make their nests on a dry portion of a braided river in Denali:




More Alaskan goodness:

Alaska impressions 6

Mount Denali:







Polychrome Mountain:


Denali Express coming in for the landing:




Dall's Sheep:


Protection of the habitat for Dall's sheep was he original reason for the creation of Denali National Park:


But now it also protects the habitat for many other animals, including grizzly bears:




... and caribou:




Another day - another caribou:


Dall's sheep - or rather, a ram:


Moose close-up: