Pelicans

[kedigato]

These are all Brown Pelicans


..... on the beach -






- and in the water -


This is an immature one -





- and two views of an adult -

[jc]

Brilliant shots Kedi. Where were these taken?

[kedigato]

Thanks Jen.

These were taken last spring when we were in Florida.

[jc]

No wonder it looks so sunny and the water looks less murky than here.

[kedigato]

This is an American White Pelican. Seen yesterday in the Homosassas Springs State Park.





In the breeding season, the birds have a flat growth on the beak (like in this photo) which is shed after they have mated and laid their eggs.

[linda]

great pics kedi, dont think ive ever seen brown pelicans before, you captured them well

[DAG]

That flat growth on the beak is amazing kedi, as usual thanks for the info.!

[nazimundo]

Lovely photos Kedi, I assume the flat growth on the beak is something to do with the courtship process.

Alfie

[kedigato]

Thanks Linda, DAG and Alfie.

Yes, the flat growth on the beak is a sign of courtship. It is shed after they have mated and laid eggs.

An excerpt from American White Pelican in wikipedia -


The bill is long and flat, with a large throat sac, and in the breeding season vivid orange like the iris, the bare skin around the eye, and the feet. In the breeding season, there is a laterally flattened "horn" on the upper bill, about one-third the bill's length behind the tip. This is shed off after the birds have mated and laid their eggs, and outside the breeding season the bare parts become duller in color, with the nakes facial skin yellow and the bill, pouch and feet an orangy-flesh color.


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_White_Pelican

[kedigato]

Brown pelicans seen at the Anna Maria Island Historic Pier -



Adults -









An immature one -





Group photo -

[linda]

more great pics kedi, they look as iff they are enjoying theirselves, well captured

[DAG]

They do indeed linda, and as the Historic Pier was mentioned above, made me wonder if centuries ago there was such a thing as Pelikan Pie? ;D

[kedigato]

;D I've never heard of anyone eating pelican, bet they taste fishy, yuk!

[kedigato]

There were masses of pelicans on the beach today. At one point, I counted 50 perched along the railing, this was without including the ones in the water or the air!

When a pelican caught a fish, several of the gulls would almost attack it while it was still sitting in the water, landing on it's back and sometimes even on its head, in the hope it would give the fish up. They didn't fly off until the pelican swallowed it's catch.

These are all Brown Pelicans, and you can tell the adults from the youngsters by the heads. The mature ones have white heads and the immature ones brown.

I have some videos of them, but must still upload to PB and that takes time.



Pelican in flight -







Pelicans on pier -

[kedigato]

Here is the promised video. Enjoy.






It was quite windy today and the microphone picked the noise up, sorry about that.