I have never thought pelicans to be that beautiful a bird–maybe it’s something about that saggy, baggy jaw of theirs.
I’ve never been one to sing their praises when there was a song sparrow to be had, or a finch, or a jay, or an anything–really.
Sorry.
But here you are in an aerial ballet, a silhouetted arabesque against a blue, blue, above a blue, blue, and me below clicking away, mesmerized.
Dip, turn, skim.
Soar, plunge, gulp–okay, not so beautiful that last part.
But I have become a fan, won over by your faithful grace, and your elegant flight.
A p r o n h e a d -- Lilly Green 
Great pictures. I have always liked pelicans, maybe because of the popular verse of my childhood: What a wonderful bird is a pelican, its beak can hold more than its belly can.
Ah, I remember that. On the ground, they look like they would be awkward, but they are beautiful flyers and fun to watch. Glad you had a nice time out.
Your pelicans are black?! Ours are white with black wingtips; never saw a black one in my life.
(I think the “gulp” was the part he liked best.)
If they were closer, they may have been more brown than black. The ones I’ve seen close up in CA, hanging out on warfs are usally brown. So I’m not sure if these guys are a different kind or not.
I am still waiting for you to move next door to me!!! This was so awesome and one I will chalk up to “one of my favorites.” God Bless, SR
You are sweet. Let’s all move to the beach!
Wow! Amazing!
Fun accident!
I love pelicans. They definitely rank in my Top 5 of common outside-of-the-San-Diego-Zoo birds. Glad you have seen the light. lol
I never noticed them in flight, I guess, just hanging out on piers. But we happened on this display, and I was amazed at theri grace.
The ones around here also seem to be rather friendly and photogenic, some often seeming to pose for us when we find them on the piers or rocks.
It’s that fish in your back pocket.
Ah-ha! So that’s the secret. What secrets do you know about woodpecks and owls? lol
Ah-ha! So that’s the secret. What secrets do you know about woodpeckers and owls? lol
One of the things I miss most about leaving FL for NH in 2000, I miss these birds spent many days watching them fish as I drove my rig from Tampa each day to the east coast ports. Thanks for your post I must get out my photos and blow some up and place in my bathroom as it is full of all my beach treasure 🙂
They are interesting birds, and the place on the coast we stopped at was so free of distraction, they were the whole show. 🙂
Love Pelicans. I live on the Mississippi and see them migrate. They stop at two lakes just outside of the town I live in to rest. They spiral, for what seems like forever, down from a crazy-high altitude to the lake; it takes quite a while, but interesting to watch. Great shots.
Certainly fun to watch!
We’ve never seen pelicans fishing, just resting or flying. Very nice picures.
If they could smell, they’d probably be all over the tomato garden, digging up our plants just like the coyotes expecting to find a fish, wen it was only some type of fishy liquid fertilizer. See what happens when you try organic methods of gardening… Always something new to learn.
Ha, stinkers! So what is the next step. My dad used to keep a radio on in the garden.
Well. my husband put up the electric fencing. But we will really need that for the corn when its grown enough for the raccoons. So, I am guessing we will not be able to make any more applications of the fishy fertilizer.
Let me know how the story ends. 🙂
They are amazing, good captures!
Thanks. Fun stuff!!
love your pelican pics, thank you.
Thanks. It was a fun capture.