(Rynchops niger) the Black Skimmer poses for the camera on the beach at Santa Barbara.

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Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) in the Santa Cruz Channel with the western end of Santa Cruz Island in the background.

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Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) swimming just beneath the surface.

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Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) with big spout.

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Blowholes of a Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) open wide, and head slightly up out of the blue water.

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Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) in the Santa Cruz Channel with the western end of Santa Cruz Island in the background.

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Another underwater swim photo - Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus).

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Snowy egret looking at the camera (Egretta thula). If you enlarge this you will see mud on the tip of the bill that goes up about 2 cm...maybe this egret was poking around in the sediments.

Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) tail fluke.

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Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) tail fluke. Strong winds blowing the water running off the tail makes it look like ropes.

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Another Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) tail fluke.

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Close up look at a Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) with its anterior end out of the water a bit.

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Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) in the Santa Cruz Channel with the western end of Santa Cruz Island in the background. Also, a brown pelican flys in to take a look (Pelecanus occidentalis).

Delphinus FIVE in a wave 2009 01-31 SB Channel - 757modCROP

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Common Dolphins (Delphinus sp) beneath the clear, blue water.

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Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) in breeding colors - sitting on the roof of the Sea Landing, Santa Barbara.

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Common Dolphins (Delphinus sp) ride a wave.

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Delphinus FOUR 2009 01-31 SB Channel - 682modCROP

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A Common Dolphin (Delphinus sp) slashes through the water.

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Delphinus leap 2009 01-31 SB Channel - 750modCROP

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A line up of Common Dolphins (Delphinus sp) with one mid-air.

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Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) adult with "golden slippers" is the same bird shown close up on page one.

Common Dolphins (Delphinus sp) wave riding.

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Mostly under the clear blue water - Common Dolphins (Delphinus sp) on the move.

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Risso's Dolphins (Grampus griseus) - if you look closely and enlarge this image you will see one surfing a small wave on the right edge, in the middle.

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(Egretta thula) Snowy Egret portrait; left side view.

Two Risso's Dolphins (Grampus griseus) swim together.

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A bunch of Risso's Dolphins (Grampus griseus).

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Two Risso's Dolphins (Grampus griseus) very close.

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A Risso's Dolphin (Grampus griseus) dives in front of the camera, the tail fluke is visible underwater at bottom edge of image.

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(Rynchops niger) the Black Skimmer resting on the beach.

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(Egretta thula) the snowy egret, a whole-bird image. See the close up of this bird's head on page 2.

Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) roost on the face of a cliff near the Painted Cave, Santa Cruz Island.

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