I would never even try to get this close to a small Grebe. Impossible would have been my other thought. They disappear underwater at the sight of a person, immediately.
I was photographing several Teals and this guy popped up from under the duck weed.
We both watched each other for a while, not sure who was more surprised. He never went under, just paddled away.
I hope I have a few more shots, this won’t happen again.
All moving together at a steady pace. White Pelicans.
ACE Basin, South Carolina.
These are the photographs you rarely get the opportunity to shoot. Never mind actually getting them, it’s the chance you don’t ever get. That’s why I chose the title I did.
This White Pelican did a glide past me and gently eased into landing.
By this time I had been shooting them for about an hour and was at the point I was missing the good shots, big gear does get heavy.
About five years ago I had this opportunity in a Florida salt marsh. I caught maybe two good images. Good thing I didn’t remember that when I was shooting LOL.
When the big feet touched the water I was hoping my aim was good because I wanted the ‘water ski’ landing.
There were a few more good images but this article already has more than usual.
To end… I was a happy camper LOL.
Pity the poor fish when this group gets together.
White Pelican feed by driving fish ahead, pushing then into a place they can be caught more easily.
Swimming in a line the big bills are filled with water, and fish, as they move ahead.
Many water birds use a similar technique, even flocks of Egrets. These big birds are pretty effective at it.
I try to restrict the number of over head Pelican fly by’s I shoot.
There are rarely as good as I think, and how many flying big belly photographs do we need!
These are big birds. Body weight can range between 7.7 and 30 lb (3.5 and 13.6 kg), although typically these birds average between 11 and 20 lb (5.0 and 9.1 kg).
The Lowcountry is considered an ‘uncommon’ migration stop. Once again the animals know better than humans. November/December they feed in these far marshes all the time, though in smaller flocks of 20 to 50 birds.
A nearby marsh has been very busy with Anhinga and Cormorants fishing. This day all we need do was wait. Sooner or later a ‘head popped up’ and another bird had made a catch.
Unlike the swamps the fish here are bigger.
This is actually a size fairly easy for an Anhinga to swallow. Not that it doesn’t take time.
All the while the Anhinga was working on eating the fish he is looking all around for trouble. Herons and Egrets will jump right in and steal this fish if he takes too long.
This one he was able to keep, but they were heading for the steal as he finished his meal and ducked back under the water.
White Pelican moving past to join a feeding flock.
Pelicans tend to huddle together as they feed making it hard to isolate a single bird for a photograph.
ACE Basin, South Carolina.
So, when a Pelican grabs a fish a whole bunch of water comes with it. And this is how he eats a fish.
The water is sent flying. Not pretty but effective.
Above the Pelican finally eats his fish.
Late November the marshes start to fill with White Pelicans. On a good day you can wear out your arm and a few memory cards.
Photographed at the ACE Basin, South Carolina.
