Aruba: Brown Pelican in a vertical dive

Found a good but windy spot with quite a bit of bird activity. I was enjoying the bird watching and especially love watching the pelicans in action. Thankfully they kept repeating their figure eight sweeps where I was standing. When they would turn back into the 20-25 knot headwind, I was able to better track them. They would spot a fish and then dive! Trying to track a bird in a vertical dive for his dinner was very tricky. Enjoy.

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Brian
My Gear:1DX ,1D MkIV, 5D MkII & III, EF 14 f2.8 L | EF 15 f2.8 f/eye | EF 50 f1.4 |EF 50 f1.2 L| EF 85 f1.2 L |EF 24-105 f4.0 L IS | EF [COLOR=black]16-35 f2.8 L II |EF 70-200 f2.8 L IS II |EF 200 f1.8L| EF 200 f2.0 L IS | EF 300 f2.8 L IS | EF 100-400 f4.5-5.6 L IS |EF 400 f2.8 L IS|EF 500 f4 L IS |EF 70-300f4-5.6 L [COLOR=black]IS |TS-E 24 f/3.5L SYRP Genie |200-400f4 X 1.4

Wow do I have a lot to learn! The Chosen Spot, NY
50D, EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM, EF 100-400 f4.5-5.6L IS USM, EF-S 17-85 f4-5.6 IS USM, EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM, EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM, EF 1.4X III Extender, Flight Brace

- Eric S.: My Birds/Wildlife (R5, RF 800 f/11, Canon 16-35 F/4 MkII, Canon 24-105L f/4 IS, Canon 70-200L f/2.8 IS MkII, Canon 100-400L f/4.5-5.6 IS I/II)
"The easiest way to improve your photos is to adjust the loose nut between the shutter release and the ground."

you're a great friend, but if Zombies chase us, I am tripping you.

Diamond Lil wrote in post #12668721
Very cool shots Brian! I've never seen such a thing. Good for you!

Thanks Lil! It was rainy season in Aruba so I stayed close to the hotel and didn't bother taking the boat out to the beach island like I would usually do. I love watching the pelicans. They remind me of their dinosaur ancestors! I'd hate to be the unsuspecting fish that gets gobbled up in one flew swoop!

I also managed a few fly-by portrait shots which I'll post later.

Brian
My Gear:1DX ,1D MkIV, 5D MkII & III, EF 14 f2.8 L | EF 15 f2.8 f/eye | EF 50 f1.4 |EF 50 f1.2 L| EF 85 f1.2 L |EF 24-105 f4.0 L IS | EF [COLOR=black]16-35 f2.8 L II |EF 70-200 f2.8 L IS II |EF 200 f1.8L| EF 200 f2.0 L IS | EF 300 f2.8 L IS | EF 100-400 f4.5-5.6 L IS |EF 400 f2.8 L IS|EF 500 f4 L IS |EF 70-300f4-5.6 L [COLOR=black]IS |TS-E 24 f/3.5L SYRP Genie |200-400f4 X 1.4

Snydremark wrote in post #12668764
Very nice! Love the hard dives

Thanks Eric! Do they do any other kind of dive?!

I had fun trying to capture these shots. Didn't manage to get any good ones of them when their beaks first hit the water but there is always next time.

Brian
My Gear:1DX ,1D MkIV, 5D MkII & III, EF 14 f2.8 L | EF 15 f2.8 f/eye | EF 50 f1.4 |EF 50 f1.2 L| EF 85 f1.2 L |EF 24-105 f4.0 L IS | EF [COLOR=black]16-35 f2.8 L II |EF 70-200 f2.8 L IS II |EF 200 f1.8L| EF 200 f2.0 L IS | EF 300 f2.8 L IS | EF 100-400 f4.5-5.6 L IS |EF 400 f2.8 L IS|EF 500 f4 L IS |EF 70-300f4-5.6 L [COLOR=black]IS |TS-E 24 f/3.5L SYRP Genie |200-400f4 X 1.4