Pan of the beach - north-to-south - Video Elephant Seals 03 Feb 2012 Piedras Blancas

Pan of the beach - north-to-south - Video of Elephant Seals 03 Feb 2012at Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, CA.

Northern Elephant Seals (M. angustirostris) at sunrise early light at Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, CA 03 Feb 2012.

Massive Alpha Males were most active today, breeding, and engaging in battles in between to defend their territories and harems.
There was much posturing, grunting, bellowing, chasing, crashing into each other, biting and thrashing until the dominant male was established.

At Piedras Blancas light is everything. The beach was crowded with a mass of elephant seals, a must-see exhibition. The main goal this morning was to capture a battle of the Alpha Males as they defend their territory during the height of the mating season and before the females head back out to sea.

Video © 2012 “Mike” Michael L. Baird, mike {at] mikebaird d o t com, flickr.bairdphotos.com, Shooting an Apple iPhone 4S.

This was a photomorrobay.com Yahoo! Group event
tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/photomorrobay/surveys?id=2712771
The call said “Photograph Elephant Seals Battling at Twilight/Sunrise. Fri., Feb. 3, 2012. A Photomorrobay Meet-up. Shooting starts at 6:40 AM. Optional carpools to the San Simeon Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Overlook 34 miles north. We leave the Morro Bay Azure Street Morro Strand State Beach parking lot at 5:59 AM sharp arriving by 6:40 AM when the best shooters start. A high-tide at 6:15 AM brings the Alpha Male battles close to the boardwalk for a 7:00 AM Sunrise. If you can't get up so early, the best shots I've saved came from between 7:40-9:00 AM, but don't be later than that or you may be disappointed. We had great light and action on Feb. 2, 2008 as you can see at www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/sets/72157603842878843/ and on Jan. 22 and 28, 2011 at www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/sets/72157625885509136/ and www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/sets/72157625803343179/ I'd suggest an SLR digital camera with a long 200 - 400mm lens and tripod. There is a railing for handheld brace-shooting. Beginners to Experts welcome. There will be no instruction. When the light and action are right everyone is shooting and not talking. See Friends of the Elephant Seal's www.elephantseal.org/ for more information. No restrooms are available at the site. Lunch usually happens on the return (Cambria Main Street Grill?) Post three of your best photos at the "Photomorrobay" www.flickr.com/groups/photomorrobay/ Flickr Group, and as many as you like at the "Elephant Seals, Northern, of Piedras Blancas" www.flickr.com/groups/elephantseals/ Flickr Group. Vote the attendance poll tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/photomorrobay/surveys?id=2712771 to indicate your attendance or carpool offer or carpool need plans. If your plans change, please re-vote. Rain cancels. Re-check the poll Friday 10PM and Sat. by 4AM. Called by Mike Baird mike [at} mikebaird d o t com 805-704-2064”

To use this video, see access, attribution, and commenting recommendations at www.flickr.com/people/mikebaird/#credit - Please add comments/notes/tags/names to add to or correct information, identification, etc. Please, no comments or invites with badges, unrelated images, flashing icons, links to your photos, multiple invites, or invites with award levels and/or award/post rules. Critique is always welcomed.

keywords: 03Feb2012,elephant seal, Northern Elephant Seal,M. angustirostris, piedras blancas, san simeon, Mammal,blancas,

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Taken in: United States / California / San Luis Obispo (show map)

Taken on: February 3, 2012

Tags:

video

03Feb2012

Northern Elephant Seal

M. angustirostris

piedras blancas

san simeon

Mammal

blancas

iPhone

iPhone 4S « less

Sets appears in: • Elephant Seals of Piedras Blancas 2009 Calendar • mammals more » • Videos • 2012-02-03-Elephant-Seals-at-Sunrise-Piedras-Blancas « less

Groups appears in: • Mirounga angustirostris (Northern Elephant Seals) • Elephant Seals, Northern, of Piedras Blancas

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