Critter News

JUNE 20, 2010

As the future of whales once more comes under global debate, some scientists say the marine mammals are not only smarter than thought but also share several attributes once claimed as exclusively human. Self-awareness, suffering and a social culture along with high mental abilities are a hallmark of cetaceans, an order grouping more than 80 whales, dolphins and porpoises, say marine biologists. Tags: marine life marine animals whales From the AFP.

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Whales Whaling 2010 Porpoises 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 25, 2013

It was the start of the shark season, which meant I saw my first Great White Shark attacks on Northern Elephant Seals , but it was also the best season for whales. The seas were glass still, and far out we could see whales, dozens of the things. Mostly Humpback Whales , but also Blue Whales. A Humpback Whale. California Sea Lions porpoised through the clear water. And there where whales. Birding bats California Farallon Islands seabirds whales

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California 2013 Sharks Porpoises 55

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2015

Offshore Sea Life ID Guide: West Coast is designed to be a quick, handy resource for use on whale watching and one-day pelagic trips. The two main chapters cover Marine Mammals (Orca; Whales; Dolphins and Porpoises; Sea Lions, Fur Seals, and Elephant Seal; Rarer Marine Mammals) and Seabirds (Albatrosses, Shearwaters and Fulmar, Strom-Petrels, Phalaropes, Alcids, Red-billed Tropicbird, Brown Booby, South Polar Skua, Jaegers, Gulls and Terns, Rarer Seabirds).

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2015 Dolphins Porpoises Whales 56

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2013

This is one of the smallest dolphin species in the world, not much bigger than the common Harbour Porpoise Americans might be familiar with. But mostly it was that I had swam with dolphins a bunch of times already, usually in crystal clear tropical waters, and money was a bit tight after seeing sperm whales and albatrosses, so I decided to enjoy the Hector’s Dolphins from the boat.

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Dolphins 2013 Sharks Albatross 58

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2012

African Penguin braying Aside from the diversity of birdlife and resident mammals of the Cape Peninsula, the bay itself supports thousands of Cape Fur Seals , a healthy population of Great White Sharks , several species of dolphin and whale, as well as countless thousands of seabirds attracted by shoals of bait fish within this marine protected area. Birding has been an all-consuming interest for Patrick Cardwell since boyhood days spent in a wildlife-rich environment.

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2012 Albatross Dolphins Penguins 70

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 5, 2016

I’ve been on a whale-watching trip in Orange County , twice gone out to Santa Cruz Island , and even visited Protection Island off the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. I spent most of the last seven or so hours of the trip lying down on a bench, getting up to see birds, dolphins, and whales when they were called out instead of spending my time scanning for additional birds. Pacific White-sided Dolphin with a Fin Whale. (At At least I think that’s a Fin Whale.

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2016 Whales Whaling Albatross 48