One of the ways I shoot the Pelicans out on the sand bars is the ‘hope for the best’ method.
This involves floating by them, getting focus, and pushing the button. Best to have tested your settings before hand.
The boat is bouncing, water splashing, and you have a limited amount of time before the tide turns forcing you to leave. Best to take what is offered and work through the images later.
This is one of the most amazing things to see. A Brown Pelican will dive from over 60 feet above the water. They are one of only two Pelicans that dive, the other being the Peruvian Pelican.
As the bird dives they shift their body a little left and turn their head, every time. Their esophagus and trachea are on the right side of the neck. Two air pouches are in their chest.
Crashing head first at a fast speed is perfectly safe for them. Of course the water needs to be deep enough, they seem to know LOL.
This Pelican didn’t catch anything. He wasn’t even trying, I think it was just for a quick landing.
A Brown Pelican and Laughing Gulls. Can’t ask for much more in a shore scene.
Waiting for us to ‘float by’.
The best way to photograph anything out at bird key is to let the current/waves push the boat along. Of course you are in the surf too, best to crank up the shutter speed. You might get something in focus as you bounce around.
Several Brown Pelicans at Bird Key, off the coast of South Carolina.
One of many great opportunities.
This may be one of my favorite photographs of the season. Not much drama, but it is something you don’t get to see very often, even if you live here.
Once or twice a year the tides work out right, the time of day fits in, birds have gathered, and a boat can float just off the surf enough to photograph the off shore rookeries. 2022 was the last time this small key worked out.
Best viewed large.
Bird Key, coastal South Carolina.
Shooting a shoreline scene a little different.
I tried two different compositions. The first with the bird floating at the bottom of the image, all sand above. And this, using the water to provide some open, negative, space.
I liked this one. Best viewed large.
Catching a Brown Pelican in flight low over the surf is an opportunity that doesn’t happen often. I was lucky enough to be watching for any action off to my left, the direction of open water.
This Pelican came in and flew directly in front of us. I think Ellen was watching too and probably had the same luck 😁.
Best viewed large.
