March 2005

Bahamas Sharks Underwater Photography Wildlife

Lemon Shark Photo, Northern Bahamas

On our recent trip to the Northern Bahamas in search of sharks, we encountered lots of lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) alongside the tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier). The lemon sharks were comfortable coming in for a close look and afforded literally hundreds of good photo opportunities on a single 90 minute…

Phil CollaMarch 21, 2005

Cactus California Desert The American Southwest Wildflowers

Red Barrel Cactus Photos, Anza Borrego Desert State Park

Thanks to John Dougherty for kindly helping us to correctly identify a number of flowering plants from recent visits to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. One of our favorite subjects was the Red Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus) which were just beginning to show their blooms. Barrel cactus, brittlebush and wildflowers color…

Phil CollaMarch 18, 2005

California Desert The American Southwest Wildflowers

Canyon Sunrise, Anza Borrego Desert State Park

Anza Borrego Desert State Park is currently experiencing an epic, once-in-a-lifetime bloom of desert wildflowers, bushes and cacti. The sand verbena and desert primrose flowers that had covered the valley floor so spectacularly in places in February seem to be receding or largely gone, replaced with poppies and lupine. However,…

Phil CollaMarch 16, 2005

Islas Coronado Mexico Sea Lion

California Sea Lions, Baja California

Each winter California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) gather in the hundreds on the rock slopes of North Coronado Island, just south of the US/Mexico border. The bottom diving is unremarkable here the remainder of the year, but when the sea lions are gathered in such numbers it is worth making…

Phil CollaMarch 15, 2005

Bahamas Sharks Underwater Photography

Tiger Shark and Keith Grundy, Northern Bahamas

We recently spent 8 days on the MV Shearwater in the Northern Bahamas, in search of various species of sharks to swim with and photograph. The most impressive of the ones we encountered were the tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier). They ranged in size from 9 feet to perhaps 14 feet,…

Phil CollaMarch 12, 2005

Wildflowers

Linanthus Dianthiflorus, Batiquitos Lagoon

We found a great spread of Linanthus dianthiflorusin a small canyon leading off of Batiquitos Lagoon in South Carlsbad: Ground pink blooms in spring, Batiquitos Lagoon, Carlsbad.Image ID: 11486Species: Ground pink, Linanthus dianthiflorusLocation: Batiquitos Lagoon, Carlsbad, California, USA Ground pink blooms in spring, Batiquitos Lagoon, Carlsbad.Image ID: 11489Species: Ground pink,…

Phil CollaMarch 11, 2005

Icons National Parks Wyoming Yellowstone

Photo of Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone National Park

Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone National Park is such an icon that photos of it have become cliche. It is the most accessible and watched of all the geysers in the park. However, it is still a wonderful sight to behold regardless of how many people have seen it before…

Phil CollaMarch 10, 2005

Guadalupe Island Mexico

Butterfly Cove at Sunrise, Guadalupe Island

The evening anchorage at the south end of Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe) is Melpomene Bay. Early in the morning we raise anchor and move to take a look at the water conditions at nearby Isla Adentro, Isla Afuera and Church Rock. On this morning, none of those spots offered us…

Phil CollaMarch 9, 2005

Environmental Problems Humpback Whale Marine Life Ocean Sunfish

Photos of Boat Strikes of Marine Animals

Boat strikes of marine animals are increasingly common, for obvious reasons. It is disappointing to observe a marine animal severely or mortally wounded by a collision with a boat. We have encountered several marine animals bearing unmistakable boat propeller scars: North Pacific humpback whale showing extensive scarring, almost certainly from…

Phil CollaMarch 8, 2005

California Carlsbad Wildflowers

Photos of Batiquitos Lagoon in Spring

Batiquitos Lagoon, bordering Carlsbad and La Costa in northern San Diego County, is experiencing a fantastic display of spring flowers and plants. The hills bordering the lagoon are as verdant as we can ever recall seeing them, covered with lots of yellow flowers and deep green foliage. Now is a…

Phil CollaMarch 7, 2005

Bahamas Weather

Waterspout Photo — Tornado Over Water

We were recently in the Bahamas, enjoying a week of diving with sharks. We were treated to tornado watching as a bonus. The weather was windier and cooler than I was used to, not having been to the Bahamas in winter before. One morning we awoke at anchor at Great…

Phil CollaMarch 5, 2005

Sharks Underwater Life

Caribbean Reef Shark Photo

These Caribbean reef sharks (Carcharhinus perezi) were photographed a few weeks ago in the northern Bahamas: Caribbean reef shark, ampullae of Lorenzini visible on snout.Image ID: 10550Species: Caribbean reef shark, Carcharhinus pereziLocation: Bahamas Caribbean reef shark.Image ID: 10549Species: Caribbean reef shark, Carcharhinus pereziLocation: Bahamas Caribbean reef shark swims over a…

Phil CollaMarch 4, 2005

California Invertebrate Monterey Underwater Life

Photo of Hermissenda Crassicornis Nudibranch

This photo of a Hermissenda crassicornis, also known as an "Opalescent nudibranch", was shot in the early 90's near Carmel on the Monterey Peninsula. We rented a house in the town of Carmel for a week. Anticipating foggy skies and cold murky water, we did not expect to do much…

Phil CollaMarch 3, 2005

Birds Galapagos Diaries Seabird

Boobie Photos

For some reason many visitors to this web site have been searching for boobie photos. We simply do not understand the intense interest in photos of boobies, or in boobies in general. Boobies are just a bunch of seabirds and not even particularly rare. The blue boobies seem to elicit…

Phil CollaMarch 2, 2005

Weather

Late Light and Clouds

This image of clouds lit from below by the setting sun over the ocean was shot from our back yard: Clouds light up with blazing colors at sunset.Image ID: 04819Location: La Jolla, California, USA I've had a surprising amount of interest in abstract photos such as this one, or shots…

Phil CollaMarch 1, 2005

Photo of the Day

Arabian Gulf or Persian Gulf?

It appears my humble website has caught the eye of people who are concerned with the historical and modern naming of the Persian Gulf, also known as the Arabian Gulf. Certain political interests would like to see the body of water bordering Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates,…