After photographing Northern Elephant Seals in the morning, we made our way back towards San Francisco on January 2nd. We spent some time south of Big Sur looking again for California Condors.


After scanning the sky and trees for almost an hour we were rewarded with a California Condor perched on a snag. The California Condor remained on the snag for about a half hour then took off soaring. We were able to capture several photographs of California Condors perched as well as soaring.


California Condors are the largest flying bird in North America. In 1982 there were less than 25 birds in the wild. Today, through a captive breading program, there are over 150 birds in the wild.


Here is a photograph of a California Condor perched in a tree.