Can you guess what this post is about based on the title? If you live near the ocean you probably can! Sea lions!!
Please click the images to view larger versions.
I so enjoyed watching them during a recent afternoon stroll on the waterfront at Newport, Oregon.
They are so entertaining to watch. Giant creatures with the cutest little faces that sleep so peacefully…
…until they are wakened by another who appears to be guarding while the other slept. When another sea lion approaches, the one that was guarding starts to bark “or, or, or, or, or” and all the sea lions turn into aggressive looking bear type animals with angry eyes and red mouths baring sharp teeth.
The approaching sea lion barks too, teeth clash, and they try to bite each other’s tiny ears until the new sea lion establishes a space on the dock.
And then they are all lovey dovey again with their peaceful cute little faces all sleeping in a pile like puppies.
Ah, the good life 🙂
Oh wow, sea lions! Never see that much XD How many are they? *counting* ……..
I give up XD they were too much 😛
I love the sea lions’ expression that you captured.. Very heart-warming ><
I love the last picture the most. I want to sleep on them 😀 *ooppss* ^O^
Hi Jofiane, I know they look so cuddly don’t they? There were about 10 on the dock below me but over on the rocks there must have been 100 at least. It was pretty loud when they all started barking! You can hear it all over the waterfront. Thanks for your visit and comments.
Excellent series Anne! How did you hold your nose and take those shots?
Hi Joe, actually they didn’t smell at all. I guess it was the clean ocean air or something. Someone told me once that the sea lion caves really stink but I can’t say I’ve ever noticed the smell of sea lions out on the ocean before. Maybe I’m just lucky there is always a breeze! Thanks for your comments!
Hi Anne,
You forgot to mention the interesting smells when you are close to these critters. We spent several weeks near Newport 2 years ago and we always enjoyed strolling down by the docks and watching them.
Hi John, hey Ray and I were just listening to your podcast on our drive down here! We have driven through Newport a couple of times but this is the first time we stopped and it was really nice. We also enjoyed our stroll along the waterfront and I had the best popcorn shrimp I’ve ever had! I hope our paths cross again sometime this winter, we would love to see you and Kathy again. Thanks for stopping by!
Great photos, Anne! Where were you standing in relation to the sea lions? It’s almost like you were right among them!
“Or, Or…” is good. I hadn’t thought of it that way – I’ve always heard them saying “Arf, arf, arf…” 🙂
Hi Laurie, I was standing on a pier which was pretty much directly above them and one lane over 🙂 I couldn’t have asked for a better vantage point to photograph them. The only other time I’ve had the opportunity to photograph them has been from my boat and you know what that’s like! So it was nice to get so close and still be on solid land. Thanks for your comments!
You guys are moving south at a fairly fast clip. You must be in a hurry to get where it is warm!Have a great trip and enjoy your adventures.
God bless,
chris
Hi Chris, yes we are rushing down south to try and find the sun!! We both have terrible nasty colds right now and the moist cold air of the pacific northwest wasn’t helping. It was nice to sit outside and enjoy the sunny afternoons the past couple of days but I hear the rain might be catching up to us soon. Thanks for the visit!
I love watching those too Anne, so fun – it’s like being a kid again. Nice work as usual!
Thank you very much Jim! I admit I had a big smile on my face and could have stayed all afternoon watching them. They are just so funny the way they have a love/hate relationship 🙂
It’s either a conversation, an argument, or they’re sleeping. Or they could be cranky because they’re hungry, or they really need a beer.
Any one of those things …
Ya … one of those things … definitely 🙂 My bet is on the beer.
LOL! I didn’t quite know what the title of the post was about when I first saw it, then I saw the images and thought “of course!” 🙂 Great shots Anne. I love photographing the personalities of these guys.
Thank you very much Mark 🙂 I always talk back to the sea lions when I see them. Glad you enjoyed the post.
Perfectly disguised in that first shot as just a few extra boulders! Wonderful close-ups Anne. Tight framing really well executed. What focal length lens were you using?
Hi Andy, Thanks for your comments and sorry to take so long to reply. I went out that day with only one lens as I do sometimes. I had my 24-105 so the close up shots were probably all taken at 105. Thanks for your comments!
Anne, your descriptions are spot-on, and it goes without saying, but I’m saying, that your photography is prize-winning.