This bird was caught in the act. A real pro and obviously not his first time.
Below he followed the line being pulled in.
Next he reached down and gently snatched it.
Once he had it safely at the tip of his bill, hold tight and leave.
Not once did the hook get too close.
Caught on camera, the Snowy Egret causing a problem. As always.
In this case it was low tide in an oyster bed. The one Egret thought he should have the entire shore as his own.
A Tricolored Heron just watched the chaos unfold in front of him.
Charleston Harbor, South Carolina.
There is no personal space if you’re a Pelican.
They left some room, and another charged right in to take it.
It can seem like these birds own the shrimp boats. If people are below they just ignore the big guys up top.
On the other hand, Pelicans do not ignore the sound of a camera shooting.
Brown Pelicans, Charleston, South Carolina.
Another series taken as a Pelican used the thermals on the waters surface.
Unlike most Pelican down low this guy was also using his wings to get some extra speed.
Once he had momentum, back to that long easy glide they have mastered.
What better place to photograph a Brown Pelican. Sitting at the very top of a shrimp boats rigging.
Charleston Harbor, South Carolina.
This Brown Pelican flew right through the docks where boats as being lowered into the water.
These docks are a place where Pelican can ignore people, for the most part.
When they hit a slight breeze and a warm thermal it’s gliding, not flying.
A Pelican will drop down to just a foot or so above the waters surface. Once there it’s smooth sailing.
No effort needed.
Charleston, South Carolina.
Brown Pelican at the commercial fishing piers.
He flew right down the center, between both sides of the docks.
