Pelicans are on everyone’s favorites list. Sometimes the photographs pile up and get lost in the crowd.
Brown Pelican, floating and posing.
Shore Birds Ignored Lately, Pelican
Tag Archives: Ocean Shore
Sunset Palms
Because I love palms.
Bath Time, Pelican
No privacy at all.
This was a pretty sedate bath. No over the top splashing. A gentle shake or two, but it got the job done I suppose.
Low And Fast, Pelican
The best way to shoot Pelicans, at least in flights, is down at their level. When they are gliding along a thermal you have a chance at the classic Pelican shot.
Of course this requires a boat, and someone who knows how to keep it steady 😁. Even steady I miss focus more than I care to admit.
Oyster Catcher
Besides being a beautiful bird they are an important ‘bell weather’ for coastal waters. Spotting them means the local environment is healthy. Good news for the Lowcountry since they are plentiful, and breed here.
Coastal South Carolina.
Brown Pelican, South Carolina
Cheated in the title here. I could not remember if this was at the mouth of the Edisto or Kiawah river. Both dump into the Atlantic near to each other. So we will call it South Carolina and be safe.
Nice looking Pelican either way.
On The Beach, Tricolor
Taken on a small barrier island off the coast of South Carolina.
Tricolored Herons were nesting here rather than the typical swamp rookeries. Being isolated out here it was safe from most predators. Not all, there were Bald Eagles around. There was ’safety in numbers’ though.
Lowcountry Pelicans (2)
These are my favorite style of Pelican shots. This is all about location. A low boat is a requirement. In flight photos like this mean you need to be at the same level as the big bird flying by (or around you).
Once or twice a year we will go out to the small islands / keys, at high tide, and float just off shore. The birds don’t pay any attention since you are floating around with them and not anywhere close to nests.
Now, the boat is bouncing and the birds flying, so the rule is bring plenty of batteries and memory cards. There will be many more misses than usual. Ultimately though you will have plenty of amazing photographs not to mention a great adventure.
Coastal South Carolina.