Ed's Collection of Coastal Critters
A menagerie of pacific shore animal life, AKA: Birthday in Catalina ----- And a special thanks to all the well-wishers who commented, I really appreciate that.
So the beginning of this post is the collection of Coastal Critters we encountered first hand using photos stolen from the interweb. (Since I didn't have an underwater camera with me, or a zoom lens, or in some cases didn't care to get a photo. And also because I was shooting mostly film and will have to wait for the film to be developed to see my shots.)
OK, ready to begin. We saw one of the rare Bald Eagles living here in southern California.
OK, ready to begin. We saw one of the rare Bald Eagles living here in southern California.
And watched him swoop down and catch a fish. So accurate an efficient.
We also saw some of the usual suspects while nature looking in Catalina such as the ever present Harbor Seals, California Sea Lions, and Brandt's Cormorant.
We also saw some of the usual suspects while nature looking in Catalina such as the ever present Harbor Seals, California Sea Lions, and Brandt's Cormorant.
The highlight of our snorkelling adventures was the adundance of Leopard Sharks living close to the shore in beaches very close to Avalon. I think Logan Kincade got some footage, so look for that in an upcoming episode.
We would pull the boat close to shore and see up to 20 at a time from our standing vantage point, their bodies clearly seen in the sunlight shallows, but when you get into the water the are very elusive. On this trip finally I was able to snorkel underwater with them, albeit shortly.
One of my favorite sightings was the Shovelnose Guitarfish. What a weird looking ray! We were observing a bat ray when the guitarfish swam up next to the bat ray and rested next to him. We floated atop these two for a good 3 minutes before Deanna started to freak out, thinking that it might attack us.
The Bat Ray's are great to see. I swam down and touched one thinking that they did not have a stinger, but after reading up on them, I realized perhaps I should not do that.
At one point there were 4 of them hanging out together.
And of course the Stingrays were in abundance and one was wise to watch his step in the sandy parts of the shallows. Luckily the ones we see in Catalina are small, and not the big ones that killed Steve Irwin, and certainly not the REALLY GIANT ones.
Now to the photos we shot:
Now to the photos we shot:
These are the dudes that came over, Kevin, Grant, Austin, and Grif-dog.
A very enjoyable time was had by all -- jumping off the Frog Rock, and snorkelling with the sharks and rays.
Relaxing on the chill tube. I could have said "Chillaxing" but that would be the ultimate douche thing to say.
Then the dudes left...
Leaving me and Deanna to spend the night there and be alone for a day of Catalina to ourselves. The day after turned out to be EPIC.
Deanna and I had our first ever up close experience with Dolphins! Hundreds of them!
They would cruise next to our boat and turn sideways to check us out. We could hear them communitacting in whistles and whines. I hope they weren't saying "get the fuck away from us asshole." It was breathtaking.
We were mainly shooting real film, so these digi-cam shots were sort of an afterthought, but we did shoot a little video that will most likely appear in an upcoming Logan Kincade segment, which will certainly be linked here when it comes out.
You can see a sweet jump here, and the Casino building in Avalon in the background. What a mega day!
Posted July 30th, 2009 by So much vacation now back to work!
Rudaitious Post!
looks like a great time had by all!
looks like a great time had by all!
Posted By: mikeyb on July 30th, 2009 at 12:38PM PST
Hope no one got sun burnt!
Maybe Grif, because he is the ultimate white boy.
Thaz my hamma'.
Maybe Grif, because he is the ultimate white boy.
Thaz my hamma'.
Posted By: Jacob on July 30th, 2009 at 12:41PM PST
Hella rad to tha maximum gnar! ;)
Posted By: Hector First of the Gang to Die on July 30th, 2009 at 05:15PM PST
catalina looks so rad
i want to go!
i want to go!
Posted By: Eggs McManus on July 30th, 2009 at 05:25PM PST
I saw the first photo and was like "man,this fool is doing national geographic shit" then realized you didn't take it.
I'd be afraid to be on a innertube thing in the ocean,jellies and shit.
Some biology-ass post!
our books at school say that Stingrays are harmless and have never killed anyone,those books are old
it's a little late,but I just got back from being gone.So here it goes,Happy Birthday to our overlord! It seems as though your last birthday post wasn't even a year ago.
I'd be afraid to be on a innertube thing in the ocean,jellies and shit.
Some biology-ass post!
our books at school say that Stingrays are harmless and have never killed anyone,those books are old
it's a little late,but I just got back from being gone.So here it goes,Happy Birthday to our overlord! It seems as though your last birthday post wasn't even a year ago.
Posted By: Jgonzalez on July 30th, 2009 at 07:30PM PST
so great...i hear it all them fishcreatures
Posted By: misho on July 30th, 2009 at 08:23PM PST
so great ...think i hear it all them dolphins
Posted By: misho on July 30th, 2009 at 08:24PM PST
Where were you JGonz?
Posted By: ed on July 30th, 2009 at 08:34PM PST
I was out camping with my family and girlfriend.But what sucks is taking dumps at the campsite bathroom,but it's funny to sit in a stall.people walk in and take dumps.They like grunt and the gross thing is you can hear their poop splash in the toilet,their piss drip in the bowl,and farts.But I had fun.Looks like you did too.Tight,bruhhhhhh
Posted By: Jgonzalez on July 30th, 2009 at 11:37PM PST
yo ed are there ever great white shark sitings out there?
Posted By: weave on July 31st, 2009 at 08:03AM PST
WOW! that post was AMAZING! such beautiful creatures of the deep!
Posted By: scisssorhands on July 31st, 2009 at 08:35AM PST
About once a year they sight or catch a Great White near Catalina, so yes!
Posted By: ed on July 31st, 2009 at 10:13AM PST
