It’s been a long, long time since I’ve shared photographs of the wonderful birds whose bills can hold more than their bellies can (with credit to Dixon Lanier Meritt, 1910). The different lighting in these shots is hard to believe even though I took them myself!
1/1250, f/5.0, ISO 1600
Canon R5, Canon RF f/4.0 600mm L IS USM
The shot above was taken in the pre-dawn light at Murray Bridge in South Australia. It was windy and a storm was coming in from the west, close enough that Ms 16 and I had to run back to the cabin to avoid being totally soaked. The water looked amazing, like spun gold, while the pelican was bobbing up and down clearly totally unfazed.
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 1600
Canon R5, Canon RF f/4.0 600mm L IS USM
I love, absolutely love, the serenity and colours in the photograph above. Even the way the water bubbles around the pelican, fore and aft, showing its movement through the water. This is a bird I watched on my recent trip to Peterborough on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road. I spent a lot of time with it, getting gradually wetter as I sank into the wet sand on the banks of the coastal reserve.
1/2000, f/8.0, ISO 640
Canon R5, Canon RF f/4.0 600mm L IS USM
I spent a long time with this character too as it ‘sailed’ back and forth in front of me as the shadows fell on the distant water. I like its spiky little crewcut and I’m always intrigued by the way their gular pouches look as though they’ve been knitted. The texture of their bills is pretty remarkable too. And those feathers, so delicate on such a large bird.
It’s taken me several hours to put this simple post together, I had no idea that midnight had crept up so quickly. I had dozens of pelican photographs to sort through and process but wanted to chose individual shots that would showcase a different aspect of this iconic bird. The species suits such a wide range of adjectives depending on the circumstances, everything from elegant to clumsy, from magnificent to comical. I hope you enjoy the details of this week’s post.
Happy birding, Kim
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They are magnificent birds.. You have captured them beautifully.
Many thanks Cas, I think they’re a bit underrated sometimes
One more word “clever”!! They know exactly where the fishermen come in after a day’s fishing and wait patiently for a snack!! Funny, delightful and another precious bird to sit, watch and laugh whilst enjoying time by the ocean.
Advice from a pelican:
Wade into life
Look beneath the surface
Soar over rough waters
Stretch Yourself
Go fish!!
Oh yes, definitely clever! Beaut advice too Barbara, though I keep coming up with alternative words for the ending 🙂
Excellent. They are truly wonderful birds and you have captured them excellently.
Many thanks Wendy. They are fascinating to watch and to photograph. I hope your photography is continuing to bring you lots of joy.
Fabulous shots, just love our comical pelicans, thanks for sharing and reminding us of all the natural beauty around us
Thanks Syndy, I’m glad you share an appreciation of natural beauty, and I appreciate your comment, Kim