Elephant Seal pup on Middle Rocks, 2010

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Elephant Seal pup on Middle Rocks, January 21, 2010.

Pup on Middle Rocks, with mother, placenta and bald eagle. Photo by Ryan Murphy
January 21, 2010: Today a new elephant seal pup was born on Middle Island Rock at Race Rocks. Follow the story below as we track what happens to this new pup.
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Early in the morning, Pam Birley, viewing on the remote camera 5 from England spotted a newly arrived pup on Middle Island Rock at Race Rocks. She sent the image above and the following message: “Looks like Slash is a Dad again !!!! He is there on middle rock with two females and….a pup.  I waited until I saw it move to be sure before I told you.   You can see it just behind Slash in front of the female.”
 Ryan was able to get the following pictures with his telephoto lens from Great Race Rock Island. Above is the complete image from the title picture. Two females and Slash the old male who has been at Race Rocks for several years now are on the island. Ryan reports that Slash had been on the main island the last few weeks (see the daily log reports) He has been trumpeting and then yesterday left and moved out to Middle Rock
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“Yesterday we got Camera 3 back broadcasting and at dark yesterday Slash was out there by himself.  Amazing that these two females showed up and one of them gave birth in such a short time period.” “For reference,Ninene was born the morning of February 1 last year.  The new little one appears to be doing well, though a good storm it could be washed away like the other pups born there last year.  This if the fourth birth observed here at Race Rocks.  Looks like a boy to me.” Jan 21, 2010 Check out other pictures Ryan has taken of Elephant seals on his Flickr Set.
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Jan. 22/10 1600 hrs the pup was spotted in the late afternoon. Closeup of next picture Jan 22. 1600 hrs.This was possibly the last this pup was sighted as there were large swells that night at high tide. Jan 23 . 1530 hrs. From remote camera 5, Garry took this composite set of a pup with the group.
February 1, 2010 0900 hrs. Another pup was sighted by Ryan over the top edge of the island, out of view of camera 5 .Possibly Scarlet’s

See the pups born on Middle Rocks in 2009

See the Elephant seal taxonomy and Gallery Index.