WildView™

February 13, 2023

Wide Open

- as seen by -

Linda Klipp @lindaklipp1

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South Georgia Island near Antarctica is a magical place for wildlife. In early summer, Gold Harbor Beach is covered by massive southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonine) that come here to give birth and to mate. These large and lazy beach loungers lie about in the sand taking in some warm rays from the sun. Brown skuas (Stercorarius antarcticus) are also a familiar site as they wander about hoping to snag a penguin egg for a meal.

This big guy was asleep until a skua meandered up and pecked his nose. The seal woke up with a loud snort creating the illusion that the skua was going to walk into his mouth.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This photo was chosen as the top submission for Wild View’s Moments That Make Us Smile assignment. Congratulations!

Nikon D700 with Nikkor 80-400 mm lens.

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