poor fella - just can't reach all the itchy spots... & he's getting no help from his ducky friends
Tags: white pelican Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve 70-300mm ducks Mayfield Slouth bird
Digging around among photos that had remained "private", and I found this one of a pelican gracefully gliding over the marshlands; not sure why I never posted it - of the many attempts this one is actually in focus ! They're so much fun to watch near their nesting area in the marshes, but very difficult to catch in flight.
Tags: white pelican palo alto ca baylands nature preserve marsh reeds 100+views gliding flying floating
I was initially so pleased with this sharp close-up of the pelican in repose against the smooth aqua background - until I noticed that the edge of his beak is excluded; then again, it is a really long beak, and the rest of his body is missing too... Oh well. It's so hard to get a decent image of these birds because they preen, twitch, scratch, shake, flap, jiggle and wobble constantly ! But I will keep trying...
Even though his head and neck are snowy white, I believe this is actually a California Brown Pelican.
If you can spare a moment, click on the large size to see the glint in his beady little eye...
www.flickr.com/photos/jillclardy/4269613699/sizes/l/
Tags: White Pelican San Diego Harbor 4740 bird avian Marina fishing pier 300mm Pelecanidae California Brown Pelican 100+views