Seward, Alaska
As I drove towards the seafood processing plant on Lowell Point Road, I noticed a frenzy of Gull action just out of sight. I parked, grabbed my camera, and walked up the obscuring embankment.
Just offshore beneath the screaming gulls, a Steller Sea Lion enthusiastically swung a hapless fish (Irish Lord?) back and forth, creating chaos when bits of fish flew off. The powerful sea mammal repeatedly dove with her prey and surfaced with a splash, resuming the thrashing.
After a sufficient time in the thrasher, the sea lion gobbled huge portions, literally stuffing her face. Anything left that was too large underwent another round of thrashing and gull-shrieking until the fish was consumed.
Another sea lion feasted on a large Pacific Octopus, tentacles and suckers hanging limp from her lips. Another two sea lions plunged around, perhaps scavenging the flying chunks before the gulls plundered them.
Finally, dinner was over and peace resumed. The four sea lions gathered in a tight group and checked me out before gracefully and effortlessly swimming away.
What an incredible dinner show!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird/Mammal Report Reporter
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