Tuesday, April 5, 2011

World Bird & Watery Wednesday ~ Pelican Rising


Tumby Bay, South Australia, has a substantial pelican population
due to a great number of caravanning early retirees fishing from
the delightfully long jetty.

Proud pelican rising from the water in a perfect take-off.


Woops, maybe not quite so perfect . . .


Sinking fast, if you do not bother to enlarge, at least enlarge this
one. Not a good look at all, this amphibian is taking on water!


Another bounce and almost there . . .


One more, and bombs away!!!, but only just . . .



Yep, take-oof and landing are the most dangerous manoeuvres
when flying. Pelicans always look so cumbersome on take-off.
Landing is not such a problem, they just waterski and if it isn't
perfect, they just ruffle their feathers as a cover up.

39 comments:

  1. I've seen the clumsy take offs by pelicans. Love the skii like landings.

    Good to see you here. Great photos. Take care of yourself. Hugs!

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  2. Wow That's incredible!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  3. Wow! Awesome photos-love the naration :)

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  4. That take off looks really hard work Arija.

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  5. Nice flight shots. That's what birds do best!

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  6. Great narrative to compliment the action. I've seen them produce some awesome flying displays but landing is another story.

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  7. Our Brown pelicans in North America don't land so much as they crash head first into the surf. Your pelican photos are fascinating. You might surmise after 40 million years on the planet pelicans are pretty well designed even when they appear awkward in our eyes!

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  8. Fantastic captures as always, Arija, and like Rebecca, I love your narration ! Good to see you back! Take care and have a wonderful week!

    Sylvia

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  9. Great photos. I like watching the pelicans around the bay here too.

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  10. An excellent set of images!
    I love the reflections in the water as well.

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  11. Great flight images. A great series.

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  12. spectacular series of action shots.

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  13. Great shots of the Pelicans. They are awesome looking birds.

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  14. Nice series... found my way here through World Bird Wednesday... what fun!

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  15. They are a bit akward but once they get up....Awesome! Love this series.

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  16. Awesome pictures accompanied by a most entertaining commentary. Love every word of it. You made me feel like I was the pelican and he was watching me!!!! Great post.

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  17. love your shots...awesome photo's...visiting you from Watery Wednesday..followed you through GFC, hope you'll follow me back...

    mine's here:
    http://lovingoutliving.blogspot.com/2011/04/antulang-beach-resort.html

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  18. Amazing series of pictures.I love all the detail visible in the feathers.

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  19. these are fabulous shots! i didn't know pelicans can be clumsy during take-offs.:p

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  20. Beatuful picture ! I have never seen a pelican in real :)

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  21. I saw a special about your pelicans on PBS this week. I am surprised by the pink beak! I think these birds are so amazing!

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  22. Beautiful pictures. Yours have more color than our White Pelicans here do. Great post.

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  23. Arija, your excellent photos have beautifully captured the seemingly clumsy take-off of this fascinating bird!

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  24. Coolest Pelican I ever saw! What species is it? The photos are all winners!

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  25. I love your pelicans, Arija. They are so prehistoric looking!

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  26. Great photos of the take off. Boy those large wings must be heavy until airborn.

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  27. Great post! I too find it funny how pelicans really need a runway to take flight. They are impressively large birds up close though, so I guess it makes sense.

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  28. What grace in the still photos, and the incredible fan of feathers. Beautiful.

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  29. I saw Pelicans at the border of NSW and Queensland. Thise pelican did not fly.

    Great photos.

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  30. Hello! Happy Sisterfriend Day!

    I am so happy to see you back. And what wonderful pictures you've brought back with you. I was just at the pier by our house a few days ago and saw groups of brown pelicans flying in straight lines over the ocean. Funny looking birds, and quite large. But magnificent nonetheless. Welcome home!

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  31. So glad to be in touch again, and so glad you had a safe journey. Looking forward to lots more pictures too.
    Pelicans are a favorite subject to photoraph, but I don't get much chance. Cool shots Arija.
    B.

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  32. Hilarious :D
    I like the comment about ruffling the feathers as a cover up :D
    Cool fellows!

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