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Archive 2020 · Sealion versus Salmon

louie champan
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Sealion versus Salmon

Had quite an experience yesterday, watched Sea Lions hunting salmon. They devoured numerous salmon over a two hour period. The sea lion bites the belly out of the salmon first, rich with eggs, and then actually acts like it's playing with the salmon before swallowing it.

Nov 10, 2020 at 12:22 AM

morris
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Sealion versus Salmon

Beautifully documented Louie

Morris

Nov 10, 2020 at 08:31 AM

AGeoJO
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Sealion versus Salmon

The salmon didn’t have a chance....

. Well-captured images, Louie!

Joshua

Nov 10, 2020 at 08:51 AM

Imagemaster
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Sealion versus Salmon

Great captures of that behaviour Louie. When I have seen them do this, they first bite off the head, or partially bite off the head. I don't think that most sea lions can do that in one chomp. They then hold the salmon by the body and wildly fling it around to dislodge the head, which nobody except the crabs eat. The gulls swarm over the sea lion trying to grab any small bits that are flung into the water. The sea lion then swallows the headless fish.

Tony

Nov 10, 2020 at 10:33 AM

Nikon1960
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Sealion versus Salmon

I think picture #2 is perfect! Well captured!

Nov 10, 2020 at 10:35 AM

louie champan
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Sealion versus Salmon

Imagemaster wrote:
Great captures of that behaviour Louie. When I have seen them do this, they first bite off the head, or partially bite off the head. I don't think that most sea lions can do that in one chomp. They then hold the salmon by the body and wildly fling it around to dislodge the head, which nobody except the crabs eat. The gulls swarm over the sea lion trying to grab any small bits that are flung into the water. The sea lion then swallows the headless fish.

Tony

Thanks very much Tony, and you are exactly correct in your description of what actually takes place. I've also observed that they bite the belly out of the salmon for the eggs. It really is quite something to see.

Nov 10, 2020 at 10:55 AM

Tim Kuhn
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Sealion versus Salmon

Great work Louie!

Nov 10, 2020 at 11:00 AM

eyelaser
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Sealion versus Salmon

Outrageously good!
Eric

Nov 10, 2020 at 12:15 PM

dallvr
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Sealion versus Salmon

These are terrific photos! Wish I had been there to see it (and shoot it).

Nov 10, 2020 at 02:30 PM

sum1sgrampa
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Sealion versus Salmon

Amazing shots Louie ! Well documented.

Nov 10, 2020 at 02:55 PM

louie champan
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Sealion versus Salmon

Nikon1960 wrote:
I think picture #2 is perfect! Well captured!
I thank you for such a nice compliment.
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Tim Kuhn wrote:
Great work Louie!
Thanks Tim.
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eyelaser wrote:
Outrageously good!
Eric
Thank very much Eric.
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dallvr wrote:
These are terrific photos! Wish I had been there to see it (and shoot it).

Thanks, it really was quite something to watch let alone be able to snap a few shots.

Nov 10, 2020 at 07:49 PM

G.E. Smith
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Sealion versus Salmon

Great set Louie. Really enjoyed viewing these!

Greg

Nov 10, 2020 at 07:56 PM

film_4ever
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Sealion versus Salmon

There are so many predators waiting for those poor salmon, it's a wonder that any make it at all to final spawning grounds.

Great shots! Poor salmon.

Nov 10, 2020 at 08:01 PM

Bobg657
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Sealion versus Salmon

Wonderful, I’ve never seen that before!
Bob

Nov 10, 2020 at 11:25 PM

bs kite
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Sealion versus Salmon

Very interesting. Good photography Louie.

Learn something new about nature every day.

the obvious: Salmon are keystone to Pacific ecosystems.

Nov 11, 2020 at 03:22 AM

Ted ellis
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Sealion versus Salmon

Nov 11, 2020 at 10:15 AM

birdied
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Sealion versus Salmon

Wonderful set Louie!

Birdie

Nov 11, 2020 at 10:26 AM

RandyR
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Sealion versus Salmon

great shooting buddy

Nov 11, 2020 at 11:15 AM

louie champan
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Sealion versus Salmon

sum1sgrampa wrote:
Amazing shots Louie ! Well documented.
Thanks for taking a look and commenting, appreciated.
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G.E. Smith wrote:
Great set Louie. Really enjoyed viewing these!

Greg
Thanks very much Greg.
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film_4ever wrote:
There are so many predators waiting for those poor salmon, it's a wonder that any make it at all to final spawning grounds.

Great shots! Poor salmon.
Thanks, poor salmon indeed.
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Bobg657 wrote:
Wonderful, I’ve never seen that before!
Bob

Thanks Bob, it's really quite something to see.

Nov 12, 2020 at 12:19 AM

andreasb
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Sealion versus Salmon

Really excellent series. The sealion population here in Puget sound is very numerous and I sure wonder how many Salmon they take, and what effect it has on other species like the Orcas.

Nov 13, 2020 at 11:01 AM

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