Just learning,
how to be,
bullies.
The females,
and pups,
take a relaxed approach,
to the budding testosterone,
conserving their energy,
for the often futile battles ahead.
Cheers to you from Piedras Blancas Elephant Seals in Big Sur California~
Adolescent Ellies~
Such adorable faces only their mother – and Nature geeks like us – could love. Beautiful photos Cindy. I think you captured their good side. How sleek they look! Best, Babsje
Watching elephant seals has to be one of the most interesting pastimes available for us ‘nature geeks!’ They are fascinating დ
They are the best 🌿
They are magnificent creatures დ
For sure , i agree. Nature always sheltered every one. Your camera view finder captures the best and show them to all of us. Thats more amazing factor in this season. Thank you
Awwww….. Such truly thoughtful words touch my heart. Thank you sincerely & be well.
Oh, goodness!
It is always a sort of, “Excuse me Sir,” situation around these guys! 😉
😆
I can hear them “singing” Cindy. Magnificent creatures!
They are absolutely fascinating to watch დ
They are adorable but certainly are bullies; nevertheless they are just being what they are. Beautiful photos, Cindy. 🙂
And they don’t run for high elected office….. 😉
It is fascinating to see something so very different from my daily sightings – and you have given us a beautiful range of photographs to admire.
You have made me happy I posted Anne. Thank you very much დ
Another fun photo story. Is the testosterone one rolling and tossing up sand?
Nay, that’s a mellow, molting, pup. When the pups molt, they are stranded and have to wait. The testosterone is showing up in the play fighting sub-adult males, bullying the smaller female juveniles. By the time the males reach 5000 pounds they will engage in epic, bloody battles on the beach for control of a harem that they will bully relentlessly. It is quite something to see. In the southern hemisphere, the bulls weight 8000 pounds, making the northern bulls look almost wimpy! 😉
That is an amazing addition to the story 🙂
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OMG, they’re amazing! Must share your link with my children – they will love these! 🙂
Oh good. Makes me happy. I hope they enjoy! დ
I always found them funny animals, shuffling along the sand. They do have lovely eyes. Glad the females and pups take it easy…. the way to be! 🙂
They don’t even sweat the big stuff, like the obnoxious bulls in heat! 😉
Super Photos.
Thank you very much დ
That sandbathing looks awfully good.
I know. I used to do that for hours on end. I miss it დ
They are wonderful!
They are such impressive creatures დ
What a coincidence! Our son-in-law in San Diego was texting us photos of seals on the beach yesterday!
He probably went to Casa Pool in La Jolla where there are resident groups of seals and sea lions დ
That sounds right. I remember his taking us to La Jolla to see them.
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These are scary looking animals. 🙂
They are formidable creatures. You definitely do not want to go up to meet one! 😉
The pup looks, like all babies, adorable!
Those eyes! So expressive დ
Picture No 1 looks like the face I see in the mirror every morning. 😉
Cracking up…….Hilarious! 😉
The one sleeping looks so comfortable. Great pictures -as always. 🙂
Seals sleeping on the sand are definitely in a state of Zen 😉
Wonderful photos, Cindy.
Thank you Timothy დ
The pups are adorable. I was challenged by a beach master on a beach in the Gallapagos, even though I wasn’t close. So I went to the other end of the beach to snorkel and swim and was joined by two playful pups!
Wow! That definitely got your attention! I have seen the Southern Ellies. They are even more massive than the 5,500 pound northern bulls. They can weigh about 8000 pounds! Note comment above დ
I find them strange and yet fascinating animals. Definitely keeping a wide berth of those bulls.
Oh yes, keeping safe distance is key. They guys are shrimps compared to the bulls who weigh up to 5,500 pounds and come here to battle in the winter. They can move incredibly fast on land too. Once I came across a lone one unexpectedly on a separate beach by itself. It was on the other side of some rocks. Definitely raised my heart rate. In the water they are equally daunting. They lift up these massive heads with eyes as big as salad plates and look at you. Their eyes dilate to a massive degree because they dive so deep and so long to look for stuff to eat დ
Yes, they’re not to be messed with!
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Great pictures, Cindy. I like the captions a lot, too. 🙂
Smiling. So happy you do & thank you! დ
How fascinating! I can’t really call them ‘pretty,’ but I do like their whiskers! And what a pretty place they live in — thank you for bringing them to me, Cindy.
Thank you more for appreciating them Debbie & cheers დ
Oh Cindy, I think they could teach us so much about relaxation.
Leslie xoxo
Agreed. So can cats!! 😉
These are wonderful, Cindy! Sweet shots!
So pleased you enjoyed Donna & thank you დ
Hi Cindy, I’d like to update your interview I did on For the Love of Art ages ago. What is you Flicker address? I may want to change out the photos and add some questions. I thought the timing was perfect since most people can’t travel. What do you think? 🙂 M
I would be honored. I don’t have a flicker account though. You can copy photos directly from my blog, from pinterest, or I can email you the original photos if you give me your email address. If you chose the last option, please tell me what type of photos you want. This is thoughtful of you on all accounts. I know I love looking at people’s posts even more since I have not been able to travel abroad.
Let me look around for some of my fav photos!
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I found several great phot s and now need to think of a few new questions for you. Take care.
Okay I have your email if you want me to send something and thank you! დ
just drop me a line so I can send some questions over. Thanks.
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Loud or not, they are adorable in their own way!
Great shots, Cindy!
Thanks much Resa. They are amazing creatures დ
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Son tan hermosas. Te felicito. Excelentes fotografías.
Saludos a ti mi amigo y gracias tan bien დ
What wonderful photographs. They are so lovely.
Love to you დ
Snoozing on the beach… my idea of a good day! 😉
I like the picture of the one sleeping so cozy with the sand all over a lot. It looks so good.
You are always so observant, which I appreciate very much. I know what you mean. I would like to be a seal in the sand დ
Exactly! <3
Yes! Mine too დ
I my former, earlier life, I did precisely this for many days. It was very nice 🙂 დ
Same here, I loved hanging out on the beach on Cape Cod and used to get so darkly tanned. Probably why I have so many dark spots on my face now, alas. 😉
Exactly…….
My goodness! They are adorable and fiercely strong.
Yes, and just wait till the 5000 pound full grown bulls return to fight battles and create mayhem on the beach. These juniors were just practicing. დ
Oh, my! Will you be camera ready, from afar?
Yes. Thank you. I visit them regularly.
😀
Great images of these huge seals Cindy. Those babies are so photogenic. Love those fabulous black eyes surrounded by white eyeliner.LOL
It is a big question for me? Why do wild animals and birds, look better than us? 😉
They look like creatures that God didn’t quite finish making. Such sweet faces those on some of them. They look like I feel. 😉
You are so wonderful Marlene. Your thoughts prove it. I hope you know how much I like you. დ
Thank you, Cindy. I see your heart in your photographs. Just so you know where it is. 🙂
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You’re seal-iously the best, my friend. Here’s the seal of approval ✅ (●මᴗමσ)σணღ*
Visa versa 2Ux2 დ
♡〜ლ(๑癶ᴗ癶๑)ლ〜♡
Amazing creatures!
They are. I have seen them in both hemispheres, but more closely in the north. There were so close to extinction. To see them every yea in is just a huge celebration:
https://jaymiheimbuch.com/articles/conservation-photography/an-animal-of-extremes-how-northern-elephant-seals-dodged-extinction/
such sweetness… great captures Cindy💖
There is such sweetness in wild creatures. Thank you for seeing this Cindy დ
It’s so true Cindy and you’re most welcome💖
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I saw seals in Vancouver a few days ago, just lying in the sun for hours. Looks like a great life!!!
For them, maybe land is like a stay in a ritzy hotel. They can sleep for days. Enjoy the scenery. Ignore the humans. But there is no room service. So, eventually, they have to return to the sea if they want to eat 😉
Haha. A great picture of life as a seal!
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Only the proboscis knows. Love the dirt toss. 🤔
Sand, man, sand! Seals don’t deal with dirt, I love the proboscis too, but I have no idea what it knows. დ
Reblogged this on NEW OPENED BLOG > https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
So kind of you! And so appreciated too! Thank you & cheers to you დ
Thank you for sharing these wonderful impressions, Cindy. They are wonderful animals, even though their noses looking like after a boxing session. Lol I hope you are well, and stay save. Best wishes, Michael
You are right Michael! They are like world warrior boxers and wrestlers, with no rules and no time outs. Beaten to humiliation is the rule of their game, and you noticed, they are just developing the noses to prove it! 😉
Lol – Just a few minutes ago on Tyrolean TV I saw an instruction for children in handling cows. Sometimes cows can also be very happy to fight. Thank you, Cindy. Have a beautiful weekend, in the paradise. xx Michael
Cows can and do injure people. Stay safe and well Michael დ
Great story-telling, Cindy. I got to view these fabulous beasts at Ano Nuevo many years ago. I’ll never forget it. You have the best time out in the world with your camera. xo
So happy you have experienced them personally. It is unforgettable, and yes, my camera is my best buddy! დ
Lovely photos Cindy, They look happy, lively in their laziness.
Nara x
They are Zenning! 😉
haha.. yes yes.. zenning they are 🙂
🧘🧘
Lovely pictures, Cindy! Thank you for the like. It feels good to be back.
Thank you & welcome back!!! დ
Hi Cindy,
I can’t get my hands on your email, I have a new computer. Could you send it to me thru my Contact Page on my site. I’m working on some questions. thanks. Have a great weekend.
This is listing as an anonymous commenter (hey WP why?) I know who you are and I will send you my email.
Hi Cindy, thank you so much for these wonderful and engaging photographs!
As usual Charles, it is I who needs to thank you. A lot! Be well my friend დ
Reblogged this on charles french words reading and writing and commented:
Please enjoy more lovely photographs from Cindy Knoke!
Friends like you are why I blog. Thank you Charles for all you do daily დ
There are so many strange & beautiful creatures. I have not seen these blubbery beauties for a long time. Thank you for the reminder of their existence.
Smiling….It has to be you Dawn, who can not only see the beauty in blubber, but can also write such a creative alliteration making ‘blubbery beauty’ a term that I plan to start using from now on, with your permission, of course, but others are sure to copy it too. You could attempt to apply for a patent, or better yet, you could just be proud of yourself. I hope you know how proud I am of you დ
I am so smiling back at you for that. You’re funny, yeah, maybe it’s a me thing. Certainly, you can. Nah, I won’t be patenting words. Others will need them for just such an occasion. 🙂 Thank you, Cindy.
🦎დ
I so enjoy this fun post, Cindy! Beautiful images. Appreciate your sense of humor. 🙂
Awwww…….so happy you enjoyed Amy & stay well my friend დ
Amazing photography Cindy and such candid shots.. thanks so much for sharing ♥
Thank you more Sally for being such a lovely friend დ
Excellent photos of Elephant seals.🌹👌🙏
Honored. Thank you very much დ
😊💓💖🌹❣️🤗my pleasure.
Never ever have I seen photos like these Elephant seals. Amazing details tell a story of nature at its finest.
JJ
Aww….. Thank you very much. They are such magnificent creatures and they were almost extinct. I am so happy to see they growing and living დ
Good memories of a trip there about eight years ago. Did you stop in Gorda, along the coast?
Not this time but I have before. This area of the California is just world class stunning.
Your style is so unique compared to other folks I have read stuff from. I appreciate you for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark this site.
A motivating discussion is definitely worth comment. There’s no doubt that that you need to publish more on this subject matter, it may not be a taboo subject but usually people do not speak about these issues. To the next! All the best!!