In the Lowcountry we are blessed with having the ability to photograph marshlands, swamps, and the shore. It’s all right here.
The other day it was a time for shore, Pelicans, and shrimpers.
The Brown Pelicans didn’t disappoint. Prehistoric, but oh so agile.
Taken at my usual Pelican spot, on the shrimp boat pier. I can stand there and take my pick of fly by shots.
If I don’t get a few good ones it’s nobody’s fault but mine.
Sailing right down the middle of the shrimp boat berths.
I don’t know the dynamics of this but the Pelicans catch this breeze along the surface here. With very little effort they coast along heading to the commercial piers in search of free food.
From a cold morning on the Atlantic shore. Even the subtropics have these. The fishermen were setting out the traps at dawn.
The warm engine in the cold air made for clouds of moisture. Sunrise made the colors and got my attention. OK, the open door and cold air was an attention getter too.
Fishing boats have a constant companion. The Pelican. This one arrived early and moved in with hopes of easy food.
This looked like a daily ritual.
Anything left from the traps was casually shared.
When these big birds come in to land they don’t stop immediately.
It’s like they water ski along while slowing down. It’s fun, as long as they have enough room to slide to a stop.
Taken on a day the Pelicans decided to cooperate. That’s a stretch maybe, but they didn’t make an extra effort to scramble away every time they saw me. That in itself is special.
They continuously dipped their bills under water so food of some type was here. The edge of the reeds would be a good spot for schools of small fish to hide in.
Whatever was there must have been small, but plentiful. The entire group was busy.
If you enlarge the above images you will notice each Pelican bill has small holes and dents. I don’t see this on Brown Pelicans.
White Pelicans hunt by swimming with their large bills underwater. A Brown Pelican will dive from up above and crash head first (very hard). Based on that I would have thought the Brown Pelican would be the one all beat to xxx.
Just one more mystery.
All these photographs were taken at a Wildlife Management Area, Donnelley, when the water had been lowered in a marsh. The Pelicans knew fishing was easy so decided to ignore us.
Typically they try to keep a distance from people. This makes getting these shots even more satisfying.
Above an Anhinga was also fishing the area but keeping clear of the big guys.
Click, or double tap, and image below to view the gallery.
This is a look up, point, and shoot type photograph.
You either get it or not. No time for a plan.
I was taking basic, random, shots of a few White Pelicans that had come near. That in itself is unusual.
However suddenly this one made a quick move, focused on something I didn’t see.
He didn’t try to get any lift. The flight was short and surface level.
Click, or double tap, any image below to view the gallery.
I never have noticed a Pelican aggressively trying to steal from another bird. But that was the plan.
An Anhinga has surfaced with a catch and been spotted by the Pelican. In a flash the smaller bird went back under, it was no contest.
So I had seen a new trick to keep in mind when out photographing the White Pelicans.
