May 28, 2013

San Diego Beluga Whale

Copyright 2013 MM.Rogers
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A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you. - Brigitte Bardot   

As much as I would like to say this was taken somewhere in the Arctic Ocean where these whales are commonly found, no, I didn't get that far. Yet. These belugas or white whales are the well-cared for crowd-pleasers of San Diego SeaWorld. Along with the white bear and king penguins.

Despite what seem like huge creatures, the beluga whales are smallish, ranging from 13 to 20 feet in length easily distinguishable from other whales with their white outer color, rounded forehead, no dorsal fins, no sharp teeth. They whistle and make various sounds, feed on fish and crustaceans. Contrary to what many people instantly assume, the belugas are not the source of beluga roe or caviar. 
 




May 15, 2013

Berkeley (California)

Copyright 2013 MM.Rogers
All rights reserved.
Find MM.Rogers Photography on Twitter
A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you. - Brigitte Bardot   


My first Mother's Day was spent outside elbow-rubbing with the busy on-the-day shoppers, along the head-scratching jam-packed car parks and roads, along the quaint Santana Row shops, then finally along California's famous city of Berkeley. Our reservation at Skates on the Bay was at 7:30pm, we got enough time enough to sit and relax at the nearby park, hang out with the setting sun, recall my husband's stories of his days with yachts and catamarans, walk along the pier and literally "chill" with the pier fishermen and golden sun worshippers.

View of the Berkeley Pier at night
The Berkeley Pier extends out for more than 3,000 feet; as such, it is one of the longest piers in the bay, as well as the state. This reflects the shallow water around most of the pier. Bottom is primarily mud and there are few rocks with the exception of the shoreline area. The pier was originally built in 1926 so there are a considerable number of old pilings but mussel growth itself is fairly light. In the summertime there can be considerable growth of kelp along the shoreline.(pierfishing.com)
Skates on the Bay restaurant has an excellent view of they bay, great food with reasonable prices. Always make a reservation prior to visiting.
The Berkeley Marina is the westernmost portion of the city of Berkeley, California, located west of the Eastshore Freeway at the foot of University Avenue on San Francisco Bay.