And A Bronco.
Two days ago I saw my first American White Pelicans of the year at a local pond but I didn’t have my camera gear with me. So yesterday morning, in the middle of a light snowstorm, I decided to go down to the same pond to see if I could get some photos that would document their arrival. I always celebrate the arrival of pelicans in the spring.
There were three of them on the pond. It was still snowing lightly and the light was poor so all I got was documentary photos.
Here the falling snow can be seen a little better near the top of the frame. I rarely get photos of pelicans in the snow.
I managed to get a few shots that included all three of them. The cormorants appeared to be deliberately hanging around the pelicans in order to snatch up any fish they might disturb.
These were the first photos I took after getting my pickup back from the shop, for the third time in about two months. It felt really good to be photographing from my pickup again.
I wasn’t completely grounded while they were working on my pickup this last time because I had this brand new (the new car sticker is still in the rear passenger side window) Bronco Sport loaner from the Ford dealership. But I wasn’t allowed to drive it on gravel or dirt roads so any bird photography trips were extremely limited. All I ended up using it for was going to the grocery store, twice.
Cute little car (except for those super-ugly wheels) and it’s fun to drive but I much prefer my pickup.
Ron
PS – If something seems to be missing in the above photo, it’s my new camping trailer that I usually keep on my driveway. It’s in the shop for some minor adjustments and repairs but I’m supposed to get it back sometime today. I’ve been burned repeatedly by dealer promises lately so we’ll see if that really happens.
The white pelicans that spend some time here in winter are gone now. I’m glad you found some to admire and photograph.
On the other hand, our brown pelicans are abundant right now. I’ve been working next to a channel that must have suddenly filled with fish, because for the past week I’ve been able to watch pelicans fishing throughout the day. I thought about you and wished you could have been here to photograph something I’ve never seen before. It’s usual to see the gulls following the pelicans to try and snatch fish, but this is the first time I’ve seen the gulls actually perching on top of the pelicans’ heads while they’re trying to gulp down their catch!
Love the Pelicans Ron. We just get them during migrations and often we get one or two Idaho or Utah tagged ones. Both locations are really happy when you take the time to report who you have seen and where. Smart Cormorants following them around as they stir everything up.
We got snow as well – and about an inch stuck.
Love Pelicans – and yours are beautiful – in spite of the snow and the extra trip to get your camera gear. Good job! Hope your truck gets taken care of SOON. My #4 grandson bought a brand new truck – and it too in still at the dealership – getting repairs – on the 5th or 6th week.:((
Thanks, Judy. Have to wonder if your grandson’s new truck was a Ford…
Such handsome pelicans! I see only Brown Pelicans around here, so that stunning white is extra special. Those horns are pretty fabulous too — hope they do the trick with the ladies. š
Love the last bird shot with the pelicans and cormorants. Great composition — white birds looking down and black birds looking up. And the coots hanging out in the background.
Crossing fingers that this is it for your truck repairs! While the bronco is cute (I test drove one while we were still deciding who got the new car a couple of years ago), it looks out of place in your driveway. Hope the camping trailer repairs are minor and not a harbinger of things to come — you deserve a break! š
” it looks out of place in your driveway”
I agree Marty. I did a double take every time I saw it there.
I’ll bet the neighbors wondered what in the hell was going on.
While I was typing my reply to you, I got the call to come and pick up my trailer.
Yay! Iām sure it was MY comment that caused your trailer to be done. šš #correlation =/= causality š
I’m sure…
Those weird growths on the top of their bills are very interesting. Is that part of their breeding adornment?
Glad you have your truck back – no restrictions about gravel or dirt roads?!
“no restrictions about gravel or dirt roads?”
Not with my pickup – only with the Bronco, which I no longer have.
The “horn” or caruncle on a pelican’s bill is thought to be a sexual ornament used in mating displays. It falls off later in the summer.
Oddly graceful birds. I used to visit Florida every year where pelicans are bountiful. Watching large groups of them gliding just above the ocean along the shore was mesmerizing!
I’ll bet it was.
Luv watching the pelicans in flight – slow motion ballet! š When I was a kid they weren’t in our area tho they’ve been here for many years now. If I remember correctly Ft. Peck was the place to see them then. The cormorants hanging around adds to the sheer size of the pelicans….. š
Glad you have the pickup back! Sure hope it’s OK now.
Gotta have that camper ready to go…..;)
Judy, I never used to see pelicans in MT either. The first ones I ever saw up there were on the Missouri River south of Cascade MT sometime in the early 70’s (August of ’73 I think). I’ll never forget it. Those bright white behemoths skimming over the dark and beautiful river were unforgettable.
Love Pelicans. Amazing birds. They remind me of the grand old seaplanes of the last century.
Curious. What did they fix on your truck?
“What did they fix on your truck?”
1. New cam phasers (4 of them)
2. New tube assembly
3. New water pump gasket and seal
4. New engine variable TIM solenoid
It’s basically the same 15 hour, $4K+ repair they did last time. They’re thinking some of the first parts they installed were defective. I hope this time they got it right.
Not exactly a confidence building experience.
A far cry from it.
Lots to celebrate. Pelicans, getting your car back and hopefully also your camping trailer.
And of course you celebrate pelicans. As I do.
A three-fer. Thanks, EC.