PDA

View Full Version : Pelecanus erythrorhynchos . . .

RJSorensen
21st of March 2005 (Mon), 21:16
The American White Pelican, complete with breeding season bump on the bill . . . these guys are just killing me. They are so funny to watch, both in the water and in the air. I think I got a few good aerials today as well. We here are on the fringe of the spring and summer range for these wonderful, funny birds.

20D/100-400 w/1.4 TC
sparker1
21st of March 2005 (Mon), 21:18
I love it. Those bumps have always puzzled me.
RJSorensen
21st of March 2005 (Mon), 21:25
LOL, yes they only have them in the spring . . . and spring is in full swing, even with most of the valley still in snow cover. I think we will lose most of it soon as we are getting fresh rain/snow this evening. I even saw a pair of Rosy Billed Poshard's (sp) today . . . I did not know they were in my neck of the woods. But we have one (1) flamingo in the area. Pink Floyd, he escaped from the Tracy Aviary in Salt Lake City and spends his summers up this way . . . pink as can be. I have one shot of him . . . a mile off, lol. Perhaps luck will send him my way? That would be cool.
sparker1
21st of March 2005 (Mon), 21:28
That's amazing...a flamingo in Tin Cup. LOL
cmM
21st of March 2005 (Mon), 21:55
very nice shot!
Maureen Souza
22nd of March 2005 (Tue), 01:48
Would be very interested in seeing the aerial shots as well.. these birds are amazing in flight as well as on the water. NICE!
Maz
22nd of March 2005 (Tue), 02:33
Nice shot RJ of a unique bird. I have certainly never seen one of those.

Thanks for showing.

Maz
http://www.homesteadsforsale.com
thomascanty
22nd of March 2005 (Tue), 03:35
Interesting looking bird. The beak bumps look strange.

Where is Tin Cup? I tried looking it up in Microsoft Streets & Trips and it said there was no such town.
RJSorensen
22nd of March 2005 (Tue), 04:53
Here is a photograph of the American White Pelicans in flight. There is a third behind them . . . when they put down into the water, it looked like they were stacked up like at the Chicago O'Hare airport. Traffic control had them on wire. These guys have been fun since they came back in this week.

20D/100-400 s/1.4 TC
MarkoPolo
22nd of March 2005 (Tue), 06:23
If Noah ever needs an assistant to refill an arc, you 'da man, RJ! As usual, great photos. I too, have seen those bumps, but never heard an explanation. Thanks for the info. We have a number of those that hang out at area lakes in the summer.
CyberDyneSystems
22nd of March 2005 (Tue), 12:14
RJ, htese are wonderfull.. I'd love to see these guys some day. (I know there common down South, but I've only seen them twice in my life :) )

That flight shot is really spectacular. :shock:
RJSorensen
22nd of March 2005 (Tue), 16:40
LOL, thanks guys . . . perhaps the little nose things help with air stabilization like the tail fin on a plane? Could be used for guidance too? Found where the colony is roosting today. Apparently they live in small bunches of twenty or so and feed together and just hang out on the island and chill. Wonder if they watch survivor . . .
sparker1
22nd of March 2005 (Tue), 20:46
Love the shot of them in flight, mainly because of the black underside of wings. Funny, here we rarely get close to them as they tend to stay in shallow parts of large bodies of water. Boats can't go there, and it's too far out for canoes and kayaks. My best views of them have been in Jackson Lake, in Wyoming. LOL
RJSorensen
22nd of March 2005 (Tue), 21:14
Oh, yes they have a nice bunch of them up there. The water has been down the past several years however, as perhaps you saw. If you find where they 'roost' which I have, and where they are feeding, which I have they you can park in the flight path and the photo gods be willing get some nice shots. We will have to see how lady luck works with these.

I found a flight of 4-5 hundred pintails today as well in a grain field, I wish I could make a digital recording of the sounds of the marsh. No human sounds what so ever, just birds, and lots ot them.

Thank you Stan.
Michaelmjc
22nd of March 2005 (Tue), 21:25
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos say that 5 times fast. Heck I'll be lucky if I can even say it once.

Great shots.
Maureen Souza
22nd of March 2005 (Tue), 21:32
Well you can tell I am 'catching up' on all your photos, LOL- I have been too busy with grandson over the last 2 days to spend any quality time on the forum. Now I am back at work and it is quiet enough for the moment to spend a little time perusing....
So glad you posted this flight photo. Our coastal pelicans are all gray so it is a treat to see these beautiful wings......