Harbor Seal Feeding Gulls

Click👆🏻About™ : Deception Pass State Park, WA

Harbor Seal and Gulls

Moment: "Wait for It"

Weather: Partly Sunny

Crowd: Minor

Time at Location: 30 Min

Date: 03.22.2025

Observation: Harbor Seal feeding a group of gulls.

AI Assistant: Harbor Seals once weaned, the real adventure begins. The pups must quickly learn to hunt on their own. Their diet mirrors that of adult seals, but their early attempts at catching fish or squid are often clumsy as they refine their swimming and hunting skills. Their sensitive whiskers play a crucial role in detecting prey and navigating underwater, giving them a bit of an edge as they practice. Survival can be tough, but their instincts and adaptability usually help them thrive in their aquatic world.

Capture: While walking along the beach at West Point in Deception Pass State Park, I observed a harbor seal feeding a group of gulls. I spent some time watching their interactions. THE STORY

Note: Pay attention to lighting conditions; you want to avoid a lot of light reflection hot spots on the water. Changing your position when photographing your subject might yield better results. Simply moving a little up or down the shoreline is usually enough. I at time under expose the shot to help tone down hot spots. 

Equipment: Nikon Z7 II ~ Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 👈🏻Amazon

Distance From Subject: 75 to 100 Feet

Tripod Used: Monopole  3 Legged Thing  👈🏻Amazon

Setting: Always Manual Mode 1/1000s ~ f/8 ~ ISO 250 ~ 600MM 

© Chris LeBoutillier

“Photographs are silent; one’s thoughts give them life.” ™  -Chris LeBoutillier