One of the usual scenes, this time the local birds were around.
Bear Island, South Carolina.
Marsh Scene
Category Archives: Pelican
Small Group That Stayed Near, Pelican
A few shots taken of a smaller group of White Pelicans. A main flock had flown off but these kept feeding.
A very large flock was feeding all through these marshes yesterday, however I was of course in a swamp.
Off To The Other Side, Pelicans
I waited for a very long, a very very long, time. At least for me it was long. I just knew the large flock of Pelican would take off all together.
Never did. Finally I walked away into the high reeds and then they started to leave! No shots at all, but I went back to my spot for the last few. Maybe I could get something from the stragglers.
No dramatic exits though.
Slowly, almost one by one, they flew to follow the main group.
It wasn’t exactly what I had in mind. Still… it’s a flock of White Pelican, taking off in a marsh, and I can get a few photographs.
How bad can it be.
Pelican Flock
When we first arrived at Bear Island I saw nothing, not a good omen.
However, after going to the far end and walking a dike this group appeared. White Pelicans were a surprise since breeding time is close.
Actually if you enlarge these images you will see the beginning of the ‘breeding bump’ on a beak.
Early Feeding
Out the other day we were able to follow ‘white spots’ and get close enough for a few Pelican shots.
Not the best day, actually almost nasty, but no heavy rain.
Getting close to mating season and this is not where they breed. I don’t think there will be many more easy to photograph flocks this year.
Pelican Fly By
This was the coldest day I have been out this year. I wasn’t sure we would find all that much, but the large marshes of Bear Island had opened up. So off we went.
One of the first things we came upon was White Pelicans (and Tundra Swans) moving out. A good sign.
Not all the dirt roads were open due to the constant rain but we heard some hunters so we knew we could get in.
White Pelicans
These photographs were taken one morning at Bear Island, a South Carolina wildlife management area.
A few decent sized flocks were moving through the old rice fields for their morning feeding.
Overgrown trails run along dikes separating the marshes. As long as we were not too obvious the Pelicans drifted close as they moved back and forth.
The water was pretty clear that morning too making the images look a lot better than some others I have taken here. This place can be really muddy.
Pelican Passing By
These Pelicans moved past me as they headed towards the far side of this marsh. It’s a far distance and surprising they just didn’t fly over.
These were just the first small group to swim there too. Ultimately there had to have been 100+ on that side. Most swam there from my area. Hey, it worked for me. Many of them passed by my spots.
ACE Basin, South Carolina