The
following photos show an unusual bonanza for the ocean birds at the
Pacific coast. The high waves were full of fish. It was amazing to watch
it. The Brandt's cormorants are
divers and were therefore avoiding the crowds of gulls around the
pelicans. The Elegant terns did the same.
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There were brown pelicans, cormorants,
various gulls (juveniles & adults), terns |
Elegant terns |
with fish |
Adult brown pelican |
Brown pelican,
juvenile |
Western juvenile gulls & pelican |
sub-adult Heermann gulls & pelican |
Brown pelicans jumping together |
Brown pelicans |
Gulls are not designed to dive. They float like a
cork on the water. So they flock to the
brown pelicans when they let go of the water in their gular pouch. |
Eventually some fish may escape with
the water. That is how the gulls may get a free meal from
brown pelicans. |
Brown pelican and gulls
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Brown pelican diving |
Brown pelican hitting the water from high up in the air |
Brown pelicans and various gulls |
Brown pelican |
The young brown
pelican juveniles are dark brown |
Brown pelican |
Brown pelican with fish in the beak |
Brown pelican, juvenile |
Brown pelican |
Brown pelicans, adult & juvenile |
Brown pelican, juvenile |
Brown pelican |
Brown pelican |
The pelican wingspan is 7 feet. |
Brown pelican, juvenile |
Brown pelican and young Heermann gulls
which are dark brown |
Brown pelican, juvenile |
Brown pelican, juvenile |
Brown pelicans and other birds |
Brown Pelican and Heermann's Gulls resting
together |
Brown pelican |
Brown pelican |
Brown pelican searching for fish |
Brown pelican putting on the brakes |
Brown pelican taking
a dive |
Brown pelican |
Brown pelican |
Brown Pelican bathing |
Brown Pelican bathing |
Brown Pelican |
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Brown pelican, juvenile |
Brown juvenile pelican |
Brown pelicans |
Brown pelican, juvenile |
Brown pelican |
Brown pelican |
Brown pelican |
Brown pelican |
Brown pelican |
Brown pelicans throw themselves from the
bridge when they spot a fish while the the cars behind them are passing
by. |
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Brown pelican |
Brown pelican, nonbreeding |
Brown pelican, nonbreeding |
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