Elkhorn Slough Safari (tm)

Bird Count

2012-01-02T21:49:00.000-08:00

Each year we donate the use of the Elkhorn Slough Safari boat to an important wildlife assess: the annual Christmas bird count. Actually held on New Year's day for the Moss Landing area, this count tracks number of birds and list all the bird species sights and heard. hundreds of volunteers take on each area count. Our Elkhorn Slough - Moss Landing area is often one of the top in the nation! Here is Captain Yohn and the Audubon Society counter volunteers while surveying for the bird count. In all the Moss LAnding area reported at least 199 species.

Otter Treats

2011-11-05T17:04:00.000-07:00

Look, we sighted a new sea otter mother and pup pair. This pair was scurrying about collecting candy all over the Moss Landing neighborhood. Moss Landing is one of the best places in the world to see real life sea otters and sea otter pups still with their mom. This sea otter enthusiast tours with Elkhorn Slough Safari regularly.

Sea Otter Uses Bottle

2011-09-03T14:04:00.000-07:00

Sea otters are known to be tool users, but this otter found a unique tool, check out the photos. It is a holiday weekend, so he grabbed a beer bottle to crack his clam open. Sure wish folks would discard their trash properly. Turned out that the clam was harder than the bottle and the bottle shattered when he smashed the clam. Luckly the otter did not get cut. He ended up using another clam shell to open his meal. We want to thank Elkhorn Slough Safari passenger G. Brouner for letting us post his "otter in action" photos on the blog.

Landward Sea Otter

2011-08-05T20:19:00.000-07:00

Sea Otters at Elkhorn Slough exhibit an unusual behaviour for a sea otter. Our slough sea otters are known to haul out on land. Sometimes they rest on shore, groom on shore, and even collect food on shore. We have watched otters break apart the marsh sediment to expose and catch shoreline small crabs to eat. More than one otter does this on Elkhorn Slough. This is a photo by Captain Yohn of a sea otter sitting in the pickleweed while grooming.

Summer Nursery Grounds

2011-07-12T15:48:00.000-07:00

The Elkhorn Slough is the nursery and birthing grounds for many fishes. In the early summer there are hundreds of rays and sharks that give live birth in the slough. Most of these harmless invertebrate eaters are leopard sharks, bat rays, and smooth hound sharks. Often their fins are viewed in the summer shallows. The Captain lifted a leopard shark out of the water for a few minutes so that the passengers could get better look, and passenger C. Menke took this shot.

Pelicans are Back!

2011-06-18T16:37:00.000-07:00

The California brown Pelicans are a protected species of bird. They return from Mexico breeding grounds to Elkhorn Slough every June. The Elkhorn Slough provides the pelicans a major resting area during the summer. There can be over 6,000 birds in one area. Each morning they fly off to spots all over the slough and Monterey bay.

Nesting Birds

2011-05-19T13:41:00.000-07:00

Late Spring and early Summer are great times to observe nesting birds and later their chicks on Elkhorn Slough. The most common nesters sighted while on the tour are gulls, egrets, herons and cormorants. The egret & heron rookery is up high in a grove of trees that overlooks the slough channel. The gulls seem to like manmade structures like broken docks, navigation signs, and buoys. The cormorants like to be surrounded by water and most nest near the entrance on abandoned pier pilings and decks. This photograph is of a Brandt's Cormorant sitting on its nest.

Swimming Lessons

2011-04-17T20:20:00.000-07:00

We are excited to be watching harbor seal pups this spring. The first births were in March and there have been about three to four born per day. Births usually continue until the beginning of May. The wee ones call to their mothers with a soft bark that sounds like "mom", recognized by even human moms. This is a photo of a little one taking swimming lessons with its attentive mother by its side. It will be fun to watch them grow up over the next few months.

First Time Ever

2011-03-27T18:03:00.000-07:00

For the first time during nearly 17 years of Elkhorn Slough Safari tours, a Stellars Sea Lion was sighted during a tour. The subadult male was resting out of the water at the mouth of Elkhorn Slough. He was over two times larger than any of the California sea lions also resting there. Captain Yohn Gideon’s description, “The Stellars dwarfed all the other California Sea Lions, he was massive. He had a deep throaty growl, very unlike the barking of our familiar Calif sea lions.”
Stellar sea lions are a threatened species according to USFWS. They had a historic range to as far South as the Channel Islands. Male Steller sea lions can weigh up to 3,000 pounds, and females up to 770 pounds. Males are 10 to 12 feet long (they can be larger than a bear) and females average around 9 feet in length. Currently known from Northern California Coast and sometimes as far south as Ano Nuevo, this is quite rare for Elkhorn Slough or Moss Landing.
This photograph below lets you see how much larger he is than the Calif, sea lions. Photos by Captain Yohn Gideon.

Harbor Seals

2011-03-18T16:13:00.000-07:00

The Elkhorn Slough is a well known Harbor Seal resting and pupping area. From the tour we always see large numbers of these seals. This time of year we can "see" pregnant females. Their bellies get obviously swollen much like a woman's. Soon Spring will arrive and we will start to see seal pups on the slough. This seal group seems to be saluting us, however they are just keeping their flippers dry and warm as the tide rises around them.

Pacific Flyway

2011-02-13T22:22:00.000-08:00

The birds are starting to make their way North. All sorts of birds are stopping in to feed at the Elkhorn Slough "cafe" on route to return to nesting areas. The slough is packed with some very large flocks such as sandpipers, whimbrels, curlews, willets, godwits, and a variety of ducks. Other species are starting to grow fancy dress feathers for breeding time such as the fancy frilly crest feathers of the egrets. Grab your binoculars.

Generations

2010-12-04T13:04:00.000-08:00

Family groups and gatherings always come out to take our tour, especially over the holidays. Elkhorn Slough Safari is ideal for the young to old and gives all age groups something to enjoy. Sometimes it is out of town guests, and another time it is locals getting some local time off to explore their own area. We have had as many as four generations on board at once. Bring your guests or give them gift certificates for the tour.

Sea Otter Show

2010-11-09T20:41:00.000-08:00

The otters have outdone themselves again. We realize these delightful creatures are a joy to watch, but they seem to go out of their way sometimes to entertain us with their clowning. This otter seems to be drinking from a plastic cup. Note to all: see where litter and garbage end up? One of the passengers just thought the sea otter was celebrating our world series champs! We would like to thank S. ONeal for sharing his photos from the day with us.

Giant Sea Hare

2010-10-18T21:18:00.000-07:00

This month has nice low tides that expose the flats. The exposed eel grass and gracilaria seaweed beds shimmer in the sunshine. This habitat is home to many sea creatures including a very large sea slug. It is called a sea hare because it eats lots of plants and appears to have "ears". These interesting animals squirt a think purple ink when upset or disturbed.

Jellyfish

2010-09-25T21:15:00.000-07:00

Our naturalist guide Kelly came in from her tour this week with quite a story. For as far as she could see there were jellyfish in the waters of Elkhorn Slough. The Captain reported that this does not happen very often, and the last he remembered seeing so many was about 7 years ago. Kelly was fasinated by their movements, by the several different types, and by the variety of sizes. Jellyfish are taken wherever the sea currents flow because jellyfish have little power of their own. The incoming tidal current brought them into the slough. They have continued to see the jellies all week. The photos here are of sea nettle jellies taken from the tour boat.

More Sea Otters

2010-09-12T16:39:00.000-07:00

Sea otters were just everywhere these last few days. There alot of wonderful wildlife observations that you can particpate in. These numbers of sea otters are just one of the top wonders to experience. The otters group together in rafts for the "safety in numbers", there are more eyes to keep watch for danger. They most often rest and snooze when in these rafts. Quite a sight to see and enjoy.

New This Year

2010-08-27T16:24:00.000-07:00

Many of our passengers come several times each year and year after year. No year is ever the same and there is always something different to see or something different happening. This year for example the roosting and nesting area for the Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets has moved. Before it was on the reserve by the hiking trails, this year it is located right next to main channel. We have been able to watch the birds nest and fledge all summer. The photo is of one of the juvenile herons landing on the marsh. Another sighting early this month was a rare fish one, although not the first time. We sighted a Mola Mola sunfish while on tour in the Elkhorn Slough. One never knows what one will see.

True Love on the Slough

2010-08-15T17:30:00.000-07:00

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Our naturalist guide, Chelsea, was recently surprized while on our tour. And it was not by a sea otter nor a harbor seal. Included on the tour were her family and her boyfriend. On the return route, her boyfriend went to the front of the boat where our guide was. He got down on his knee, told her a beautiful sea chantie love poem, and asked her to marry him! She said yes immediately and he quickly placed the ring on her finger. Her family cheered. We wish them just the very best life as to offer.

Majestic White Fishing Bird

2010-07-22T00:08:00.000-07:00

There are many more American White pelicans this year than we have sighted in past years. We would have said they were rare in the summer, but not this year. These large birds are a pleasure to watch with their coordinated efforts and graceful dipping moves (they do not dive like brown pelicans). They have been getting all sorts of bait fish, top smelt and the like. The plate on its bill is the sign of a breeding bird, The plate is fiberous and is generally shed after eggs are laid.

First Time Ever - Sea Lion Pups

2010-06-12T21:16:00.000-07:00

Captain Yohn Gideon has been leading Elkhorn Slough Safari's since 1994,and in all that time he has never seen a sea lion having pup. In fact, it's rare to even have a female sea lion in Northern California. Females usually stay South at the Channel Islands. The male sea lions dominate the Moss Landing area and Monterey Bay. Captain Yohn comments, "I know I have never seen a sea lion born in Moss Landing, not in all 16 years. I have never seen a sea lion pup in the slough." "We do enjoy seeing harbor seal pups being born in the slough each spring and right now we have three or four new sea otter pups and their moms up Elkhorn Slough," stated Captain Yohn, "But never a sea lion pup, until now." On the Elkhorn Slough Safari tour today passengers were treated to the birth of a California sea lion and even took home vdeo. The Captain reports there are 5 sea lion pups in all and we watched two of the births. The Captain wrapped up, "That is what is exciting about leading these tours. You never know what you are going to see!"
Photo of the first ever sea lion pup in Elkhorn Slough is by Captain Yohn Gideon and shows a mom cleaning the afterbirth from her newborn

Hungry Sea Lion

2010-06-07T21:22:00.000-07:00

Just last week one of our photographer passengers captured this incredible scene from the tour boat. This sea lion is gobbling up a Thornback ray. We never know what we are going to see out there on Elkhorn Slough. Thanks to R. Jackrel for sharing the photo with all of us.

Cuddly Otter Toys

2010-05-16T16:30:00.000-07:00

Many of our passengers who love otters go home with one of our soft and fuzzy stuffed otter toys. We do not usually get reports on the stuffed toys, but Marge emailed us this photo of their pet dog who apparently adores the otter toy. Tootsie seems to agree with us that otters need all the protection and care they can get.

Sea Otter Mom and Pup

2010-04-24T20:29:00.000-07:00

This photo says it all, so we will just confirm that this is a day old newborn Calfornia Sea Otter watched from Elkhorn Slough Safari's boat.. The Photograph belongs to Mr. M. Edson who allowed us to post it here.

New Staff

2010-04-18T16:16:00.000-07:00

We would like to introduce our newest naturalist tour guide. This is Chelsea and she comes to us with a biology background and work experience doing interpretation at the Hawaiian Aquarium. One of her favorite topics is sea otter biology. The clam shell she is holding is the type that Elkhorn Slough sea otters have in their diet.

Colors of Spring

2010-04-09T20:37:00.000-07:00

This time of year the birds are getting all dressed up for the breeding and nesting seasons. For example, these Caspian Terns are showing off why they are named "Caspian". The intense red beaks are named after the Caspian red sea. Soon they will have nests and chicks at Elkhorn Slough.

Flamingo!

2010-01-24T14:20:00.000-08:00

Every now and again, we get very, very unusual visitors at Elkhorn Slough. This time it is a pink Greater Flamingo! We have been watching this bird for nearly a week now from the tour. Mostly on the mudflats of seal bend but also in the water near Kirby. These birds are not native, not even from this coastline. However, this is not the first time flamingo was observed here, there were two others in the 80s. Nearly all are escapees from a zoo or park. This specific bird has a pale yellow leg tag which we reported. If it is identified we will report it here at this blog entry.

Romance on the Elkhorn Slough

2010-01-03T13:27:00.000-08:00

This handsome fellow commerated the last day of the year by surprizing his girlfriend of two years with his proposal of marriage. Captain Yohn and crew were in on the secret plan. The Captain picked a perfect spot to stop the boat, requested a volunteer to help him, the Captain chose her, and Captain positioned her on the bow. Then, the groom to be also went up, got down on one knee, opened a red ring box, and he asked her sincerley. She said yes!! Everyone including the sea otters were delighted. We wish them a wonderful marriage and many, many happy years together.

Favorite Time of Year

2009-11-30T21:11:00.000-08:00

Whether you like birds or sea otters or just plain beautiful vistas, the crisp clear days of fall and winter are just a favorite time to be on the Elkhorn Slough. The softer sunlight makes for wonderful photographs and memories. This tour group watched flocks and flocks of birds moving about the mudflats of the tidal channels, it was awe inspiring. The numbers of birds are the highest in the fall and winter.

Bird Migration

2009-10-09T21:54:00.000-07:00

The numbers and variety of bird species is increasing rapidly on Elkhorn Slough right now, as it always does in autumn. We are seeing all sorts of migrators from these tiny sandpipers to all sorts of waterfowl. However, these little migration experts are some of our favorites. They travel great distances on a diet of tiny worms! It is a Fall celebration of wildlife in the wetlands.

All the World

2009-09-12T15:39:00.000-07:00

People come from all over the world to see the wildlife on Elkhorn Slough. They are in search of a particular bird, marine mammals, and the playful otters. They come and take photos of the wildlife and scenery and our crew. Sometimes they take video for TV shows in Germany, Australia, Japan, Denmark, United Kingdom, Canada, China and many others. This Japanese visitor insisted in having her photo with Captain Yohn and said the otters and pelicans were her favorites.

Egret

2009-07-30T16:13:00.000-07:00

These beautiful birds are sighted frequently on Elkhorn Slough. They stand very still watching for bait fish to capture and eat. It is challenge to see them in all the different behaviours while on a tour. Stalking, flying, preening, wading, nesting, and competing for territories.

Pelicans of Summer

2009-07-15T15:55:00.000-07:00

One of the summer highlights is the large numbers of California Brown Pelicans at Elkhorn Slough. The slough is a major roosting and resting location for these birds which were nearly wiped out by the use of DDT pesticides in the past. We also see lots of the much larger White Pelicans who tend to organized together for fishing.

Crab with Otter

2009-06-28T12:22:00.000-07:00

Our passengers are always forwarding amazing shots of the sea otters. Here they captured an otter tangling with a kelp crab. We do not often see otters with crabs in the Elkhorn Slough, generally their diet is on clams and large innkeeper worms. This day after much yipping from the pinching, the otter did finally get his crab meal.

Weddings

2009-06-07T17:05:00.000-07:00

Our Captain Yohn officiates at weddings. He has married couples on board the Safari boat with sea otters as witnesses, married couples at the Captain's Inn bed and breakfast, and married people around Monterey Bay. The Captain dons on all his regalia and uses his fine voice to take the couple through their vows and blessings. Couples have even used "nautical poetry" in their service such as "having a love as constant as the tide". Captain comments, "It is a pleasure and a privledge to share in such happy times with people."

Sea Otter Photography

2009-03-31T16:43:00.000-07:00

"I have traveled all over the world to photograph wildlife and Elkhorn Slough Safari's operation presents some of the best photo opportunities I have ever experienced. Between ESS's stable, flat bottom boat, Captain Yohn's expertise and the abundance and variety of wildlife, you just can't beat this. And for photographing sea otters in particular, this is quite simply, the best shooting in the world. " --Suzi, photo expert and guide, this is her photo of a mother sea otter with her pup in her arms

First Seal Puppy

2009-03-13T13:08:00.000-07:00

This week we observed the first harbor seal pup of the season. All spring long, we see many slough babies such as this harbor seal pup. When new, they are cute wrinkly little guys yipping for their mama. It sure fun to watch them try to get their bearings and to nurse. Pups will continue to be born through mid-May.

Sea Lions

2009-02-15T16:38:00.000-08:00

"This is a group of California Sea Lions, from the boat you can hear their characteristic barking sound", comments naturalist Rachel. These animals are quite common here and often put on a display that makes you laugh. While generally here most of the year, their numbers are particularly high just before and after big waves in the winter.

Candid Camera Sea Otter

2009-02-06T17:42:00.000-08:00

I have been taking tours out on Elkhorn Slough for 15 years, and am amazed that there is always something new, but this has got to be one of the quirkiest observations yet. We just finished a week long set of cruises with a photography club. We had many wonderful wildlife shots including the baby otter. But this fellow seemed to be taking photos of us! A tourist must have dropped this video camera in the slough (been under a while as evidenced by the alga growth) and it was found by the otter. One of the photographers shared his photo with us and allowed us to post it. Photographer Enrique Aguirre stated, "OK, this is the funniest thing I have seen in the wild. I promise there is no Photoshop involved, this IS a REAL shot.". We wonder what the otter plans to use it for, maybe the sea otter is posting on u-tube right now.... Captain Yohn Gideon

Bird Count 2009

2009-01-07T17:13:00.000-08:00

We volunteer our boat and time to the annual Christmas-time bird count sponsored by the Audubon Society, for over 15 years. Every year the Moss Landing area is a top birding spot, and has a top number of bird species for the entire country. Most years Elkhorn Slough is in the top 10 and often top 5 in the nation. Always held on the First of January for our area, this years unofficial count was over 201 species in one day!

Calm Waters

2008-11-29T20:03:00.000-08:00

This time of year we get questions about the weather. Wintertime is some of the best wildlife watching as storm waves chase all sorts of critters into the quiet calm waters of the Elkhorn Slough. For example, we get much higher sea otter numbers and rarer sea going birds. The "weather windows" are nearly always full of sunshine. Much of the wildlife stays for days enjoying the new peaceful habitat.
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Birds and Birding at Its Best

2008-11-06T17:39:00.000-08:00

The Fall bird migration is well underway. The numbers and variety is up! The smaller shorebirds are in very high numbers, so high that the mudflats appear to be alive and walking about. These Western Sandpipers travel great distances from Northern tundra to South America - and our Elkhorn Slough is just a rest stop along the way. They feed and fuel up here for the next leg of the journey. --- Capt

Captain Pumpkin

2008-10-28T10:44:00.000-07:00

Employees at the Elkhorn Slough Safari work hard to make your slough adventure wonderful and informative. Taking a break from tours, they held a pumpkin carving competition. All jack-o-lanterns had to look like our Captain Yohn. Winner for the Most Like the Captain and the Funniest Captain were awarded.

Film on the Slough

2008-10-22T20:12:00.000-07:00

Since I started working for the Elkhorn Slough Safari I’ve gained priceless knowledge about filming and photographing marine mammals in their natural state. For example, taking video in a moving environment using stabilizers, and that lighting in late afternoon gives spectacular footage. I hope the great information that I am learning on the Elkhorn Slough Safari will help me further my future career in creating nature documentaries as a filmmaker. ---Naturalist Cody

Elegant Terns

2008-10-11T17:17:00.000-07:00

You can see the season turn with the rotation of the Terns. This photograph is of Elegant Terns that frequent Elkhorn Slough in late Summer and early Fall. Winter brings the Forster's tern, and Spring brings the Caspian Tern. Other occasional terns spotted on safari are the Least, Black, and Common terns plus the Black Skimmer. -- Capt. Yohn

Girlfriends on the Slough

2008-10-01T09:56:00.000-07:00

Our friend Pat has been on the pontoon boat way over 10 times! She tells us that it is amazing that she sees new things each time she goes. What she likes most is sharing the experience with her friends. This photo is from her last trip out with us, she brought some of her high school graduating class from Minnesota. -- Captain Yohn

Photography Safari

2008-09-21T10:52:00.000-07:00

These friends just took a private charter on our Elkhorn Slough Safari in search of the perfect photo.
Photo Buds Comment: "We've been on ES Safari 4 or 5 times now, and Captain Yohn always gets us in position for some GREAT wildlife shots, but that is not the reason we go. The main reason is it is so peaceful up Elkhorn Slough, nobody hassles us, and we are around the people we want to be with. It is a great adventure experience with your buddies!"

Sea Otters Galore

2008-09-11T17:46:00.000-07:00

I used visit the Monterey Bay all the time in search of my favorite
furry friends, sea otters. I used to get ecstatic if I saw maybe one or two otters in the wild. But now that I work for the Elkhorn Slough Safari I look forward to seeing rafts of otters nearly everyday in their natural habitat. Today we actually saw 66 otters up close and personal, but that’s not all we also saw 159 harbor seals and over 47
species of birds. These tours are more than just tours, they’re an experience of a lifetime.
Naturalist/ Biologist Kelsi

2008-08-22T16:35:00.000-07:00

The wonderfully mild days of summer are with us. This morning we spotted a raft of sea otters. It is really something to see these in person and in the wild. I go out nearly every day, but they always catch my attention. --- Elkhorn Slough Naturalist

2008-08-05T11:16:00.000-07:00

We’ve been enjoying clear skies and a tremendous array of wildlife including birds, harbor seals, and sea otters! We’ve been having a blast and we are excited to welcome our new full time naturalist, Kelsi Rey. Kelsi has a biology degree from CSU Stanislaus. She has an infectious energetic spirit and her knowledge and enthusiasm make her an exciting new addition to our team. One of her tours has already been featured in July, 2008 Bay Area Parent Magazine!

Starting Out

2008-06-28T17:39:00.001-07:00

Hello

This is our very first post to our new blog. The captain and crew will be posting stories and sightings from our Elkhorn Slough Safari boat tours here. We look forward to sharing the slough with you.

http://www.elkhornslough.com

-- the Capt.