We received the pictures for this file attached to an e-mail from Pam Birley, a regular observer from England on our cameras. She saved these images from our remote camera so we have quoted her e-mail here describing the events as they unfolded…….

. ” On January 22/04, it was a peaceful scene on the cliff with a large group of cormorants and a grazing goose….when suddenly a young bald eagle swooped down and made a meal of one of the birds….

Note that the cormorants were swimming out beyond their perch at this point as the eagle stands on his prey . …..A passing seal kept popping up to see what was going on….

…….and when the eagle had finished its meal it flew off, leaving the rest of the carcas for the seagulls to finish off.. Quite a little drama. What a fantastic site – always something of interest”

….Pam goes on to say…” Do you know where the elephant seal is (we call him Big Guy) – I can hear him but can’t find him on the cam – he was under that rock for about a week. I belong to Whale Watchers Group on Yahoo, most of us being addicts of Orca-Live.com during the summer and we have been pasting some RR captures on that site. We do give credit to you of course and we are spreading the word about your excellent website. Thank you so much !!! .”….

(ed. note) : Well thank you Pam! We really value your observation and quick action in recording these scenes and sending them along to us as an e-mail attachment. One of our Japanese students has suggested the name “Debu” (Fatty in Japanese) for the elephant seal that spends much of his time up on the main island. If you can hear him but not see him, he is hauled out just out of range of the camera on the North side of the house. He likes the soft long grass of one of the lawns. See the marine mammals archives for several videos of this elephant seal who was badly injured last year.