Pelicans

[Harryb]

Hi you'll,

I took some pelican shots last weekend so I figured I would share a few of them. I mean why I should I suffer alone?. Pelicans ain't my favorite subject, they remind me a lot of NYC pigeons. All of these were taken with my D100 and the 24-120 VR lens (this should give you an idea how close these birds were).

the in your face shot

[Harryb]

the less than classic profile shot

[Harryb]

and the obligatory flight shot

[amc]

... they remind me a lot of NYC pigeons. Harry, your quote above is the very reason the pelican in that in-your-face shot is so pissed at you.

[Andy]

nice birds old man. http://www.liquidninjas.com/bbs/images/smilies/klan/oud.gif

oh, your sensor needs a bit of cleaning :deal (look upper right in first shot)

ps: pelicans are way cooler than nyc pigeons - look how much food they can hold in their mouths! :eat

[Angelo]

good lord I can't believe how you manage these captures. that #1 shot is just unbelievable. :thumb

[jwear]

Harry pelicans are great birds almost as good as your shots of them.You did not tell everyone why they have so much color this time of year ? I tried to find some just for the color thru. but they must have on gone to FLA. for the photo op .Jeff

[Nir]

A beautiful set Harry!

[johno]

So, Harry, do you dress like a big fish to get this close? Or do you go to the sporting good store and buy a jar of fish urine and rub it all over? :rofl Amazing how close... the detail. You need to print some postcards and sit at the opening of this bird reserve and sell pics to all those with wee cameras like mine.

peace.
johno~

[Harryb]

Harry, your quote above is the very reason the pelican in that in-your-face shot is so pissed at you.
Nah. He was more pissed because I didn't have any fish to give him. Pelicans have no use for people w/o fish. :D

[Harryb]

nice birds old man. http://www.liquidninjas.com/bbs/images/smilies/klan/oud.gif

oh, your sensor needs a bit of cleaning :deal (look upper right in first shot)

ps: pelicans are way cooler than nyc pigeons - look how much food they can hold in their mouths! :eatThanks tadpole. The sensor's ok. I noticed that spot and checked on later shots and it didn't reappear, so I'm guessing it was something in the water. I left it in instead of cloning it out to give you something to talk about. :rofl

The pelicans can definitely hold a rack of babybacks in their mouth, pretty much like someone else I know, but look at how much bigger they are than NYC pigeons.

[Dee]

and the obligatory flight shot

In this photo I believe the show off jumping pelican is male. The brown headed one in the lower corner is an immature and the white head is a mature pelican.

I think the males get red pouches and bills in the mating season -- but I could be wrong. First noticed the red pouch and bills in Shell Beach, but I have yet to find a good online site for birds showing the changes from popping out of the egg to maturity!

I read somewhere casually that the colors mean the male is in mating plumage! (or whatever it is).

Love the first one! How close were you? There was one pelican in Santa Cruz several years ago (when they sold small fish for the sea lions and birds) that I got about 4 feet from.

Pelicans work hard for their food, witness a feeding frenzy sometime... they do not at all remind me of pigeons! :D

[Seamus]

Brilliant shots Harry.


Can I respectfully suggest that the next dgrin trip is to Florida. Pelicans and egrets, 'gators.... a huge change for me from dirty bad-tempered swans.


Shay.

[ginger_55]

Harry, great shots of those funny colored pelicans. However, I thought pelicans were mine.

Geez...........you got it all!

To top it off, the weather is bad, and the birds around the corner went elsewhere. Probably to your wetlands. Watch for them. That Heron has a wound or something on his side.

Pelicans do get close, if they aren't scared, then they want food. They are like Andy seeing a plate of ribs in the distance. I have hidden in the car from one before.

g

[gus]

Very sharp harry...beautiful birds. Funny how they colour so diff around the world.

I will get some of ours (white with black wings) for you to see when i get this camera/lens.

[Harryb]

good lord I can't believe how you manage these captures. that #1 shot is just unbelievable. :thumb
As in real estate, its location, location, location. I've got 3-4 wetlands in easy driving distance plus the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Heck this morning while having my AM coffee I saw a Great Egret, a pair of Sandhill Cranes and their two chicks, and GBH in the stream a few feet from my pool enclosure.

[Harryb]

Harry pelicans are great birds almost as good as your shots of them.You did not tell everyone why they have so much color this time of year ? I tried to find some just for the color thru. but they must have on gone to FLA. for the photo op .Jeff
Hey Jeff,

The color is because its mating season for them. I was hoping for some white pelicans but only the browns were out. :cry

[Harryb]

A beautiful set Harry!
Thank you Nir

[Harryb]

So, Harry, do you dress like a big fish to get this close? Or do you go to the sporting good store and buy a jar of fish urine and rub it all over? :rofl Amazing how close... the detail. You need to print some postcards and sit at the opening of this bird reserve and sell pics to all those with wee cameras like mine.

peace.
johno~
Hey Johno,

At this location you don't get close to the pelicans, they get close to you. I had to take my long glass off and go to my 24-120 lens

[John Mueller]

Hey Johno,

At this location you don't get close to the pelicans, they get close to you. I had to take my long glass off and go to my 24-120 lensLooks like those fellows could be realitives of Andy...hanging around the food :lol4 :D

[ginger_55]

Hey Johno,

At this location you don't get close to the pelicans, they get close to you. I had to take my long glass off and go to my 24-120 lens
Now, Harry, that IS a good picture!!!!!

It is so PELICAN!

And the location, as you said, but it is special..........

I do like that picture of the pelicans.

ginger

[Harryb]

In this photo I believe the show off jumping pelican is male. The brown headed one in the lower corner is an immature and the white head is a mature pelican.

I think the males get red pouches and bills in the mating season -- but I could be wrong. First noticed the red pouch and bills in Shell Beach, but I have yet to find a good online site for birds showing the changes from popping out of the egg to maturity!

I read somewhere casually that the colors mean the male is in mating plumage! (or whatever it is).

Love the first one! How close were you? There was one pelican in Santa Cruz several years ago (when they sold small fish for the sea lions and birds) that I got about 4 feet from.

Pelicans work hard for their food, witness a feeding frenzy sometime... they do not at all remind me of pigeons! :D
Hey Dee,

These are all Brown Pelicans who have learned to hang around people. The colors were due to the fact they are in mating mode. I was around 3 feet from the pelican when I took the first shot. They were hanging around the shelter where the fish cleaning table was set up. Some fishermen brought their dogs along to keep the pelicans away (didn't work).

[johno]

Hey Johno,

At this location you don't get close to the pelicans, they get close to you. I had to take my long glass off and go to my 24-120 lens

I knew it! :rofl

peace.
johno~

[Harryb]

Brilliant shots Harry.


Can I respectfully suggest that the next dgrin trip is to Florida. Pelicans and egrets, 'gators.... a huge change for me from dirty bad-tempered swans.


Shay.
Hey Shay,

Thats not a bad idea there are a plethora of photo ops down here. A shoot on the Atlantic side or the Gulf Side (Ding Darling Widlife Refuge & Corkscrew Swamp) would be easy enough to set up. I just had 17 Nikonians here last weekend and everyone went home a happy camper.

[Harryb]

Harry, great shots of those funny colored pelicans. However, I thought pelicans were mine.

Geez...........you got it all!

To top it off, the weather is bad, and the birds around the corner went elsewhere. Probably to your wetlands. Watch for them. That Heron has a wound or something on his side.

Pelicans do get close, if they aren't scared, then they want food. They are like Andy seeing a plate of ribs in the distance. I have hidden in the car from one before.

gHey Ginger,

Sorry about stealing the pelicans but they were just there and I couldn't stop myself. :D

They are hungry buggers. I saw them put great quantities of fish parts into their bills. I haven't seen anything like that since the last time I ate with Andy. :binge

Thanks for stopping by.

[Dee]

Hey Johno,

At this location you don't get close to the pelicans, they get close to you. I had to take my long glass off and go to my 24-120 lens

I gotta get myself to Florida!

[Harryb]

Very sharp harry...beautiful birds. Funny how they colour so diff around the world.

I will get some of ours (white with black wings) for you to see when i get this camera/lens.
Thanks and I'll be looking for oyur shots in the future.

[Andy]

..... I just had 17 Nikonians here last weekend and everyone went home a happy camper.

they all switched to canon? very very cool! :poke
















































http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/16458414-Ti.gif

[Harryb]

they all switched to canon? very very cool! :poke
OK, we are starting this brand knocking huh. :rambo When I get my D2X you come on down and we will have a shoot-out. :duel I will try very hard not to embarass you too much. :rofl

[Andy]

OK, we are starting this brand knocking huh. :rambo When I get my D2X you come on down and we will have a shoot-out. :duel I will try very hard not to embarass you too much. :rofl

what's a d2x? some sort of motorized wheelchair? well, that's good. do you have the floaty options on that thing, so you can shoot at the viera wetlands still? :lol3

[Harryb]

what's a d2x? some sort of motorized wheelchair? well, that's good. do you have the floaty options on that thing, so you can shoot at the viera wetlands still? :lol3

Hee, Hee :wink Its the biggest & baddest shooting machine around. It will have you selling your toy camera and going back to your etch-a-sketch. :bad

[Harryb]

Looks like those fellows could be realitives of Andy...hanging around the food :lol4 :D
About right but they had better table manners. :rofl

[Harryb]

I gotta get myself to Florida!Absolutely. If you ever get over to the Space Coast let me know and I'll show you all the hot spots. I have to warn you though rush hour down here can get pretty hairy. :yikes

[Dee]

Absolutely. If you ever get over to the Space Coast let me know and I'll show you all the hot spots. I have to warn you though rush hour down here can gte pretty hairy. :yikes

Oh my!!!! Love the pink ones! (although it's so not my favorite color). Like, you other birds move out... I got to simplify my photo composition!

I actually saw a bunch of egrets, but I'd have to park, walk half a mile to get back to them, and by that time they'd probably all have flown away!

Those pelicans at the fish cleaning station -- too much! I'd be going nuts!

[Andy]

About right but they had better table manners. :rofl

i resemble that remark :eat !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Steve Cavigliano]

These are great Harry :thumb :thumb


That 1st one is super (despite the stuff in the water that looks like sensor dirt :lol ). Love the color and detail :clap

Geeze, must be tough, huh? You saw more waterfowl from your pool, than I see in a week...lol

I'm glad to read that you weren't hurt in the mating frenzy. With that hat and that long lens, you could pass for a large pelican :lol4 Hey, maybe that's why that one pelican got so close....lol

Seriously, really fine shots Harry. Love the later ones too. Pink wings, how kewl is that?


Thanks for sharing,
Steve

[Seamus]

Hey Shay,

Thats not a bad idea there are a plethora of photo ops down here. A shoot on the Atlantic side or the Gulf Side (Ding Darling Widlife Refuge & Corkscrew Swamp) would be easy enough to set up. I just had 17 Nikonians here last weekend and everyone went home a happy camper.
When Andy recovers from the yosemitie trip he might take it on board. It's easy for me to suggest it but I won't be doing any of the hard work in organising and planning the trip.

I'm looking forward to your photos of the weekend.

Shay.

[Harryb]

These are great Harry :thumb :thumb


That 1st one is super (despite the stuff in the water that looks like sensor dirt :lol ). Love the color and detail :clap

Geeze, must be tough, huh? You saw more waterfowl from your pool, than I see in a week...lol

I'm glad to read that you weren't hurt in the mating frenzy. With that hat and that long lens, you could pass for a large pelican :lol4 Hey, maybe that's why that one pelican got so close....lol

Seriously, really fine shots Harry. Love the later ones too. Pink wings, how kewl is that?


Thanks for sharing,
Steve
Hey Steve,

Thanks for the kind comments on the pics. If you want to do some wildlife shooting this is the area to live in.

The only thing that gets those pelicans frenzied is fish so I was pretty safe. :D

[Harryb]

When Andy recovers from the yosemitie trip he might take it on board. It's easy for me to suggest it but I won't be doing any of the hard work in organising and planning the trip.

I'm looking forward to your photos of the weekend.

Shay.
Hey Shay,

Thats why its up to folks like you and me to make these suggestions. We don't have to do any of the work so we aren't inhibited in our thinking. :rofl

[Andy]

Hey Shay,

Thats why its up to folks like you and me to make these suggestions. We don't have to do any of the work so we aren't inhibited in our thinking. :rofl

spoken like a true retireee!

[Harryb]

spoken like a true retireee!
and proud of it:smile6

[Seamus]

Hey Shay,

Thats why its up to folks like you and me to make these suggestions. We don't have to do any of the work so we aren't inhibited in our thinking. :rofl
:D , All we have to do is fill memory cards and eat as much ribs as we can.