Elephant Seals, that is. So you want to be a marine biologist, here's just one example of the potential hazards.
I spent an afternoon up at Point Reyes National Seashore last weekend, and was fortunate to observe some activity at the elephant seal rookery there.
While at the observation point, a group of National Park Service biologists went out to do some fieldwork, primarily tagging the "weaners" (recently weaned pups).
These pups often weigh 300-400+ pounds, and the adult males can weigh in at around 5000 pounds.While at the rookery, the males are fasting for a period of about three months, and can easily lose about 1000 pounds. So the males shown below are nowhere near full size.
These were all shot at 700mm using my 1DX and 500mm II + 1.4x. Thanks for stopping by!
Jim
#1 - Tagging recently weaned elephant seals
#2 - A warning issued
#3 - "Back off!"
#4 - Census taking at the rookery (humans provide a nice size perspective for the massive males)
#5
#6 - A content dominant male, patrolling the waters
Karl Witt wrote:
Gosh these are huge Jim! Nice documentary work, I like the perspective of size comparisons shown here. Not sure I want to play 'tag' with these guys
Karl
I never appreciated their size until I saw them next to humans as a reference. I've seen them from a distance (given protected status), so while they looked big, I didn't realize how truly massive the males are.
mitesh wrote:
Wow, the size of these animals is amazing! Really enjoyed seeing the behaviors depicted in the set, and the reminder of how small we humans are
Thanks for the comment, I felt the same way as I watched the biologists walk past them.
Really nice documentation work Jim. It looks like they hired you to do this for them I really like the shots from on land, these pinnipeds are immense!
Were there other animals or birds there? I have been by there many times but always on the way to somewhere else, maybe I should make it a destination?
Karl Witt wrote:
Gosh these are huge Jim! Nice documentary work, I like the perspective of size comparisons shown here. Not sure I want to play 'tag' with these guys
I really like the shots from on land, these pinnipeds are immense! 
so awesomely fantastic!! So 
fun story you're telling!