Windy, and that makes it wet, but Gulls are always busy.
These are actually hard shots to get, most grab focus on the waves not the bird. Fall a little behind, or in front when following the bird and the image is waves instead.
It’s always soothing to stand with the wind and waves. A great change of pace.
A Ring-billed Gull watching for anything that might be washed up in the surf.
The other day I took a small gazillion shots of various shore birds. It was a welcome change from the swamps and marshes.
I had the wrong lens with me so my ‘keepers’ will be far less and it will take some work to dig through the images.
Breezy and chilly, however the open space and salt air was great.
I’ve photographed this before, and it’s always funny.
You never think of a Pelican throwing back his head and stretching. Other birds do it, but because of their odd bill it’s just weird.
So there above is a full blown Pelican stretch…and he did make a little sound.
This bird was up in the rigging of a local shrimper (commercial fishing boat). While a lot of boat ‘stuff’ in the way it gave a little more interest too.
Click, or double tap, any image below to view the gallery.
I believe PassingByPhoto.com had a few shots of this also.
scheduled article
I guess today is ‘Pelican Day’. I’ll give the Brown Pelican equal billing with the White.
These images were captured near Charleston Harbor. Where the White will frequent marshes I have only seen one Brown Pelican there.
Brown Pelicans are the smallest in North America, and probably the most acrobatic. Better personality too, my opinion.
I usually see these birds at the shore. They do frequent larger marsh ponds, just not as many. There is so much water around here they are really common.
Getting photographs like these are a welcome change from marsh and swamp shots. I don’t think any easier but lighting and angles are different.
Click, or double tap, and image to view the gallery.
This photograph is a good example of how Pelicans use the thermal ‘cushion’ on the waters surface.
He will ride this past the shrimp boats and right out to Charleston Harbor.
An unknown Coast Guard officer wrote the following in the crew’s log on the last night before the automated light system was installed: “Rock of slow torture. Ernie’s domain (the ghost of a light keeper). Hell on earth—may New London Ledge’s light shine on forever because I’m through. I will watch it from afar while drinking a brew.”
Built in 1909 outside the New London Connecticut harbor.
(something different)
He slowly moved past me, checking the shore in case of chasing fish here. This is common and I have wondered what they are thinking when we look right at each other.
Just as amazing is to watch a 1,400 lbs (635 kg) Dolphin gently slip under water and how they move it like it was solid matter.
When finally under there are nothing but small ripples. This is why it is so hard to see a Dolphin and figure where they might rise up again.
