This week’s photo was taken last month in Moss Landing, California. Sea otters can frequently be seen here floating in the small harbor, usually eating or grooming. This area is also home to the Elkhorn Slough – famous for its many birding opportunities. The Elkhorn Slough Foundation boasts a checklist of 346 species of resident and migratory birds.
Sea otters are fascinating to watch due to their displays of anthropomorphism and (sometimes comical) interactions with each other. By floating on their backs as they eat, they appear very relaxed and laid back. I always imagine a big smile on their face, as if they are about to tell a great joke.