I am traveling to San Fran for a Conference, and am trying to squeeze in a day of photography. Any place between San fran and say Monterey for good wildlife photos....thinking mainly sea otters. Thanks,
Posted by Paul Dileanis on March 19, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Dan,
If you can make it all the way down to Elkhorn Slough (Moss Landing) close to Monterey there is a tour boat ( http://www.elkhornslough.com/index.html ) that is probably your best bet for Otter Photos. You can also rent kayaks and do it yourself, just be respectful of the otters and other wildlife. For the Safari boat I recommend a long lens in the neighborhood of 500+mm. I have had good luck with lenses in the 2-400 range from kayaks. Otter viewing between Santa Cruz and SF is more difficult and no guarantee that you will see them.
If you find yourself pressed for time go north of San Francisco. At the Marin Headlands there are River Otters and lots of birds in Rodeo Lagoon. At Point Reyes there is plenty of bird life as well as the Thule Elk Preserve.
Maybe someone on the forum knows of an otter colony within easy reach of SF, but this is my best advice at this time. Hope it helps.
I agree with Paul. Elkhorn Slough is probably your best bet. My experience elsewhere along the coast is hit or miss. Sometimes you'll spot an otter, other times not - and whenever you do they are quite far away. In Elkhorn Slough...well, no matter how hard you try to keep your distance (and there usually are docents to make sure you do) more often than not an Otter will pop up right beside you. I prefer to kayak rather than take a tour boat, and the earlier in the day the better.
Posted by Derek Sedillo on March 19, 2009 at 12:37 PM
I am interested in this as well.
I have heard that sea otters are also viewable near the Whole Enchilada restaurant and bridge behind it. But I have stopped by there twice and did not see them. Maybe I was looking at the wrong time or I was not in the right spot. More than one non-photographer (at least 3+ different ppl) I have met in this area have sworn they have seen them there? No boats were required in their cases.
Derek
Posted by Reno DiTullio on March 20, 2009 at 1:25 AM
Gotta go early near the Whole Enchilada, after turning off Hwy 1 look for the otter(s) on the right hand side of the road where the marina ends; I have lots of shots from that location.
The place Reno described in Moss Landing is pretty reliable for CLOSE views of sea otters, especially during low tide. All of my otter photos are from there, I've even gotten photos of a brand new pup with its mom (my friend watched it being born). Have fun!
Also if you have the time, go on a morning whale watch trip. Gray whales are in the bay, humpbacks showed up yesterday and killer whales have been seen regularly over the past week or so (in addition to the usual dolphin and sea lion sightings).
Thanks everybody,
I will definitely check out the place near Moss Landing, sounds like a good place to eat too. I have both a 200-400 and a 70-200, will I need the extra length of the big zoom, or do you think I could get by with the 70-200, with a 1.4 or 1.7 tc.
Thanks again, everybody was extremely helpful
Posted by Reno DiTullio on March 24, 2009 at 1:41 AM
Dan, take the 200-400, Phil's on the "spit" across the bridge is a good place to eat, unique.
Discussion
8 repliesIf you can make it all the way down to Elkhorn Slough (Moss Landing) close to Monterey there is a tour boat ( http://www.elkhornslough.com/index.html ) that is probably your best bet for Otter Photos. You can also rent kayaks and do it yourself, just be respectful of the otters and other wildlife. For the Safari boat I recommend a long lens in the neighborhood of 500+mm. I have had good luck with lenses in the 2-400 range from kayaks. Otter viewing between Santa Cruz and SF is more difficult and no guarantee that you will see them.
If you find yourself pressed for time go north of San Francisco. At the Marin Headlands there are River Otters and lots of birds in Rodeo Lagoon. At Point Reyes there is plenty of bird life as well as the Thule Elk Preserve.
Maybe someone on the forum knows of an otter colony within easy reach of SF, but this is my best advice at this time. Hope it helps.
Paul
I have heard that sea otters are also viewable near the Whole Enchilada restaurant and bridge behind it. But I have stopped by there twice and did not see them. Maybe I was looking at the wrong time or I was not in the right spot. More than one non-photographer (at least 3+ different ppl) I have met in this area have sworn they have seen them there? No boats were required in their cases.
Derek
I will definitely check out the place near Moss Landing, sounds like a good place to eat too. I have both a 200-400 and a 70-200, will I need the extra length of the big zoom, or do you think I could get by with the 70-200, with a 1.4 or 1.7 tc.
Thanks again, everybody was extremely helpful