A Gull is a fraction of the size of a Pelican but they can torment the big guys.
When a Brown Pelican surfaces after a dive they may have 2 gallons of water in their pouch along with a fish. They need to ‘spit out’ the salt water.
A Gull knows this. As soon as the Pelican opens his mouth…the Gull dives for the fish. And they get them too.
I can’t imagine what it would be like to stick my head in there!
I didn’t know that gulls can be so nasty. I always wondered why gulls are often around pelicans. I know right now. I hope this pelican was very careful and didn’t lose his fish.
In this shot it does look like the Gull is eating something. It happens so fast we miss it most of the time.