My Excursion Down the Big Sur (Ventana Wilderness) Coast

[MotherlodeParrot]

Every couple of months I have got business in Southern California and I have the opportunity to drive down Highway 1 on the Big Sur Coast. This highway happens to be one of the best scenic drives in California and a great wilderness too. This time for the bird lovers on this forums I was privileged enough to spotting two of the worlds most endangered and most enormous birds in two separate locations, California Condors (Gymnogyps californianus). I got a couple of pictures.This first Condor was on the coast foraging just south of Carmel.

This Condor was looking at rookeries of Sea Lions and Harbor Seals for dead animals to forage on. These guys Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina).

Here's the coastal habitat that they were foraging in. That is one of the best scenic drives in California. During certain times of the year you can even regularly watch Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus) swimming along this coastline.

Here is the second Condor I spotted cruising on thermals high in the mountains just north of San Luis Obispo.

Then lastly some male Northern Elephant Seals (Mirounga angustirostris) fighting at the end of the wilderness.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I love that drive so much! And beautiful photos! I go hiking at Pinnacles sometimes where they roost and nest, they usually arrive back around 3-4pm.

 

[MikeyTN]

Very nice pictures!!!!

 

[MotherlodeParrot]

I love that drive so much! And beautiful photos! I go hiking at Pinnacles sometimes where they roost and nest, they usually arrive back around 3-4pm.

I'm live over near Yosemite and have been meaning to go and look for some of the Pinnacles birds. There are actually more of them at Pinnacles and they are closer to home. The restoration that has happened in the last two decades on the Big Sur coast is something special. They have got a a return of many species and its just a spectacular drive. I always look forward to my next drive back to Southern California. Bald Eagles, California Condors, Northern Elephant Seals, and Southern Sea Otters all were endangered and have or are making a come back.

Very nice pictures!!!!

Thanks!

 

[JerseyWendy]

Oh what breathtaking scenery!!! Thank you SO much for sharing the pictures....now excuse me while I wipe the drool off my face. :32:

 

[aliray]

Stunning photos, thanks for sharing

 

[MotherlodeParrot]

Oh what breathtaking scenery!!! Thank you SO much for sharing the pictures....now excuse me while I wipe the drool off my face. :32:

Thanks!

Stunning photos, thanks for sharing

Thanks!

 

[MotherlodeParrot]

Same topic another group of Condors. One of the Condors from the Southern California population flew all the way up from the Tejon Ranch to the foothill entrance to Yosemite and back in about 4 days. That is about a 600 mile round trip in 4 days. Almost 40 miles away from where I live in the Mother Lode area. Talk about provocative imagery how about California Condors flying around Half Dome and El Capitan.

 

[MotherlodeParrot]

I just made my latest excursion down Highway 1 to Southern California and got the opportunity to spot three California Condors from the same spot this time. The first was a wild fledged foster chick Condor number 501 that was cruising the cliffs above Highway 1. While the other two were mature adults and looked to be a pair that were high in the mountains cruising together. However I was not able to acquire their tag numbers. Sorry no pictures this time.

A condor biologist by the name of Mike Stake showed up with radio telemetry. This allowed me the opportunity to chat condor conservation with him for about an hour while watching these birds.

Cheers
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[faeryphoebe1]

Wow, Big Sur is beautiful. Those are great pics, thanks for sharing.

 

[MsPony]

Love <3 I'm smack In the middle, Santa Barbara, so I've taken the 1/Malibu a lot and LOVE it. On the way back from dropping off horses in the bay area we took the 1 back, with a horse trailer, LOL. Don't ever do that! But it was sooo gorgeous.

The MB aquarium has their new octupus exhibit, and the elephant seals are birthing, and it's our anniversary soon, excuse for a 1 trip to MB?

 

[MotherlodeParrot]

Love <3 I'm smack In the middle, Santa Barbara, so I've taken the 1/Malibu a lot and LOVE it. On the way back from dropping off horses in the bay area we took the 1 back, with a horse trailer, LOL. Don't ever do that! But it was sooo gorgeous.

The MB aquarium has their new octupus exhibit, and the elephant seals are birthing, and it's our anniversary soon, excuse for a 1 trip to MB?

I lived in Malibu for about half a year while I was in school at a frat house. While the Santa Barbara area I almost grew up in as I have got family that lives in Santa Ynez.

Cheers

 

[antoinette]

What a lovely experience
Beautiful pics

Thanks for sharing

 

[MotherlodeParrot]

Here's a neat Video about the Big Sur coastline.

Big Sur Spring 2013 on Vimeo

 

[Calace]

Wow. Such beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing them!

 

[MotherlodeParrot]

Here is another video's about the wildlife on the Big Sur Coastline.

Misty Condor Sunday on Vimeo

 

[MikeyTN]

Very neat video!!!! How you've been???

 

[MotherlodeParrot]

Very neat video!!!! How you've been???

Thanks! I'm good.

 

[MotherlodeParrot]

BIG NEWS for California Condor fans! The Yurok tribe is going to begin releasing California Condors (Gymnogyps californianus) on the Klamath watershed in Northern California in the next 1 to 3 years. Here's an article. For Northern California and Oregon birders it should give you something big to look forward to looking for!

Yurok Tribe to release condors in California | Fox News

 

[RavensGryf]

Great news! I'd love to see them.. Maybe I'll have to take a LONG drive up the coast in the next 1-3 years! Beautiful pics from last year. I love the seals too.