The White Pelicans of Mountain View

[Dee]

Thanks to Steve C's sharp eyes and kindness in telling me where they were hanging out, I finally got to see white pelicans up close.

Previously we'd see them flying overhead near Alviso, or we'd see them fishing on the Hayward side of the San Mateo bridge -- through a fence, in a distance at 70 mph! Any photos I'd gotten before were mere specs just to prove we actually did see them.

It's a hot dry walk out to where they have the Pelican Bath House, but not really that far for anyone in decent shape (not me!). Drive down San Antonio Road (from highway 101) heading toward the bay. The road makes an abrupt right turn and changes it's name to Terminal Road. Right after you make the corner you'll see the park entrance, a restroom (a real one with running water) and a place to park your cars. After parking walk down the path. Keep following the path in the hot baking sun till you see the pump house. There is a stairway down to the marshy area, but it's locked. You can see a well worn path next to it though.

Rayna immediately spotted some Canadian Geese on the first drying up pond on the right of the path. After the pump house are some metal bleachers. There's a path to the left of the bleachers that lead to a viewing area. We saw ducks there and looking toward the bay -- the pelican baths.

Here's what the overall scene looks like.

http://DeeGolden.smugmug.com/photos/31756474-L.jpg

And, not to worry -- this is a greatly cropped photo of the original. My 200 mb zoom will only reach so far, and the birds are safe from human intervention, and they seem to know it.

Bike riders, runners, walkers, and dogs don't perturb them.

http://DeeGolden.smugmug.com/photos/31756468-L.jpg

Rayna walked down a path (made by other photographers, most likely) and got closer to the pelicans.

http://DeeGolden.smugmug.com/photos/31756464-L.jpg

And, surprise, suprise -- dragonflies. Rayna was lucky enough to have one land quite close to her on a green stem of grass and stay awhile! I was SO jealous, but I wasn't about to move in on her shot.

I got two photos, and here's one of them.

Not as good as so many of you are posting, but hey, it's MY first dragonfly shoot! Now that I know about them I'll be more prepared, but I don't have a macro and they aren't going to let me get within 3 inches of them! :): It's cropped and sharpened. "My" dragonfly decided to land in dragonfly camouflage area!

http://DeeGolden.smugmug.com/photos/31756491-L.jpg

There are just a couple more in this album:

White Pelicans (http://deegolden.smugmug.com/gallery/723726)

[Andy]

:wave pelicanfest and dgragonfest in one post :D lovely dee, just lovely. i'm missing my 2nd home, the calif coast....

[Harryb]

Hey Dee,


Looks like a great place to shoot. The pelican BIF is very good especially shooting with the 828. :clap

[bfjr]

Really nice photos and text. Makes me want to go there right now and join you. Looks like a great place to shoot and just enjoy !!! :D

Thanks for posting

[Dee]

:wave pelicanfest and dgragonfest in one post :D lovely dee, just lovely. i'm missing my 2nd home, the calif coast....

Odd you should say that. I was watching a show and a person asked someone "where is home" -- my answer has to be Long Island, and I'm just not sure why since I spent a lot of years living in New Jersey too.

But I wouldn't really want to move back, this is where I live now. What can I say, I'm Bi-Coastal!
:):

Thanks for commenting -- if you get back out here, be sure to make Steve show you the spot while they are still in the area. I know you'd have a blast!

[Dee]

Hey Dee,


Looks like a great place to shoot. The pelican BIF is very good especially shooting with the 828. :clap

As these birds flew across my viewfinder a lot faster than the brown pelicans do -- how does Harry do it, my poor camera can't even focus on the white pelicans before they're gone out of range again.

And such bright light, let me change my EV, I remember Harry saying something about that... and what kind of camera does Harry have again?

LOL

[Dee]

Really nice photos and text. Makes me want to go there right now and join you. Looks like a great place to shoot and just enjoy !!! :D

Thanks for posting

I need to get one of those light folding chairs. You could just sit on a chair and have a blast watching the pelican bath house -- not to mention the egrets, Canadian geese, ducks, shorebirds, cormorants, squirrels, dragonflies, bike riders, runners, the waving grasses.

It's just that it's SO hot... need to try a later time of day and hope there aren't any mosquitos around.

[Steve Cavigliano]

You gals done really good Dee :thumb :thumb

Nice work on the pelicans and your dragonfly is better than any I was able to get with my Sonys :clap The walk isn't too bad and as you mention, there are a few places to sit and rest. Plus, it has real bathrooms.....LOL Those trails go on forever :uhoh I have to try to hit this place when it's cooler and see how far I can go. That's the one advantage you have with your 828. Even though you are limited to 200mm, it is way lighter than a 20D with the Bigma attached.

As I mentioned, in my reply to you in my thread, I'm looking forward to seeing what you ladies capture on your next visit :D

Good work,
Steve

[ginger_55]

Hi, dee, I love that first shot, just love it. and isn't it interesting how nature is so camouflaged.

I often wonder about natural things that are NOT camouflaged, they need to be awefully strong, or taste awefully bad.

(Then I drive up to the osprey in my white car, haha, not even a contest. well, it is, but gosh I am tired of waiting the guy out, not gonna do it again.)

Love that first shot, and love the shot of your friend shooting. Nice to know someone else can't walk miles.

ginger