BIF, I got my Pelican!!! (and a gull)

[Dee]

OK, so you have to realize first off these are cropped, I can only reach out to 200mm zoom. But we headed down to Waddell Creek to see if the windsurfers and kite sailors were out, since the wind was so strong and steady. We were disappointed not to see more, but that's another thread.

While not as good as Ian and Steve's shots, it's probably the best my cam is going to get unless a bird decides to stop in mid air 8 feet from my camera!

I got these from the wharf in Santa Cruz. There must have been something good to eat, cause the pelicans were diving in, quickly accompanied by about 3 to 5 gulls a dive! These would have been better a little earlier in the day, but you do what you can! <sigh>

http://DeeGolden.smugmug.com/photos/24149863-L.jpg

http://DeeGolden.smugmug.com/photos/24149866-L.jpg

And the gull...

http://DeeGolden.smugmug.com/photos/24149867-L.jpg

[BigAl]

I like the 2nd pelican Dee :thumb

regards
alan

[gus]

They are great dee...odd to see diff coloured pelicans...ours are white.

Has the 2nd bird got a band on his leg ?
Gus

[Nir]

Great catches Dee! I love the gull!

[Skippy]

OK, so you have to realize first off these are cropped, I can only reach out to 200mm zoom. But we headed down to Waddell Creek to see if the windsurfers and kite sailors were out, since the wind was so strong and steady. We were disappointed not to see more, but that's another thread.

While not as good as Ian and Steve's shots, it's probably the best my cam is going to get unless a bird decides to stop in mid air 8 feet from my camera!

I got these from the wharf in Santa Cruz. There must have been something good to eat, cause the pelicans were diving in, quickly accompanied by about 3 to 5 gulls a dive! These would have been better a little earlier in the day, but you do what you can! <sigh>

And the gull...
Nicely Done Dee :D I like to watch Pelicans, they fly so gracefully, walk so awkwardly, and those big GOBS of theirs are amazing :rofl
Skippy (Australia)

[ginger_55]

Good shots, Dee! And we each like different ones, as many photos as you could put up, I think it would be a different one, :rofl .

I love the first one as the Pelican is looking at YOU and SMILING!

Amazing! I mean I would smile, but a pelican? Did you say, "cheese"? That is good focusing there, too. Right on the face, with the smile, :D

ginger

[bfjr]

Good Job Dee :thumb
Pelicans always look like flying cargo planes :D
I don't have one Peli BIF so now I have to go give it try :D

[jwear]

great job Dee :thumb all three :clap good light too

[Dee]

Gus, not sure if the pelican had a band or not on it's leg. I see bands on the gulls quite a bit.

Glad you all liked them.

bfjr -- yep, your turn! I hope you get some nice ones.

Ginger, yes, I thought it looked like the bird was staring at my camera lens wondering if it was a good fish to eat :-)

Skippy, would love to see the white pelicans from your part of the world!

I love watching the pelicans, landing and take offs are particularly amusing! Some land on their feet, while others land nose first! I can watch them at this one spot at Pillar Point, but my lens just isn't long enough to get any decent shots.

[Steve Cavigliano]

Very nice Dee :thumb :thumb


Despite your 200mm handicap, you've shown you don't need much tele to nicely capture many birds. Ya done really good :clap


Steve

[Trish323]

Gus, not sure if the pelican had a band or not on it's leg. I see bands on the gulls quite a bit.

Glad you all liked them.

bfjr -- yep, your turn! I hope you get some nice ones.

Ginger, yes, I thought it looked like the bird was staring at my camera lens wondering if it was a good fish to eat :-)

Skippy, would love to see the white pelicans from your part of the world!

I love watching the pelicans, landing and take offs are particularly amusing! Some land on their feet, while others land nose first! I can watch them at this one spot at Pillar Point, but my lens just isn't long enough to get any decent shots.

:clap :clap :clap :clap :clap WTG! Great job! I have no luck shooting anything that is moving! I keep trying though:dunno

[Harryb]

Hey Dee,

Very nice BIFs. Welcome to the club. :D

[Dee]

:clap :clap :clap :clap :clap WTG! Great job! I have no luck shooting anything that is moving! I keep trying though:dunno

Or they don't "glide" in the right place, or the light is wrong, or they fly off in the wrong direction.

I was just lucky there was a lot of good fish by the wharf which kept them circling, and luckier because there was more than one hunting for fish! I deleted a bunch in the field, and had about up to 10 that just weren't sharp, tho they looked sharp on the LCD, even enlarged! Argggh!

I want to count feathers!
:):

[Dee]

Hey Dee,

Very nice BIFs. Welcome to the club. :D

I was sure wishing for a telephoto yesterday... but that's for another thread.

As I told Trish, I was in a good spot with lots of fish that the pelicans liked and they kept circling and diving and circling and diving, so I had a fighting chance!

Gives me a lot more respect for those of you who get the bird in sharp focus, and properly exposed.

The problem is you make it look too easy!
:): :): :):

[Dee]

Very nice Dee :thumb :thumb


Despite your 200mm handicap, you've shown you don't need much tele to nicely capture many birds. Ya done really good :clap


Steve

Thinking Steve would get some killer shots if he was here! It was quite a feeding frenzy and those gulls ganged up on the pelicans... wonder if they ever get any fish from the pelicans? Sure made it hard for the pelican to swallow it's catch though. I wanted to spend more time but it was getting late and I'd lose light real soon and I knew Ed was tired of waiting for me, since I spent so much time at the lighthouse with the surfers. (another thread). Thought of you and Ian there too, and yep, a telephoto is definitely requited for the optimum shots you guys get.

[ehughes]

Very Cool Dee... every time I see them I can't help pointing the camera at them..

Ed