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.

at

39 comments:

  1. GaelynApril 5, 2011 at 7:26 AM

    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. UnknownApril 5, 2011 at 7:49 AM

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

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  3. RebeccaApril 5, 2011 at 7:51 AM

    Wow! Awesome photos-love the naration :)

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  4. The Weaver of GrassApril 5, 2011 at 7:54 AM

    That take off looks really hard work Arija.

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  5. TexWisGirlApril 5, 2011 at 8:01 AM

    ha ha! great captures!

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  6. Robin RobinsonApril 5, 2011 at 8:14 AM

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

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  7. FABApril 5, 2011 at 9:04 AM

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

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  8. SpringmanApril 5, 2011 at 9:10 AM

    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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  9. Sylvia KApril 5, 2011 at 11:10 AM

    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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  10. Maude LynnApril 5, 2011 at 12:08 PM

    Great series of captures!

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  11. mickApril 5, 2011 at 12:19 PM

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

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  12. CarlettaApril 5, 2011 at 12:27 PM

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

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  13. theconstantwalkerApril 5, 2011 at 1:07 PM

    Great flight images. A great series.

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  14. jooApril 5, 2011 at 1:22 PM

    Fabulous set of photos!

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  15. NeilApril 5, 2011 at 2:10 PM

    Great series of photos.

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  16. AnonymousApril 5, 2011 at 2:21 PM

    spectacular series of action shots.

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  17. eileeninmdApril 5, 2011 at 2:34 PM

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

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  18. rozApril 5, 2011 at 2:38 PM

    SMILE

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  19. VictoriaApril 5, 2011 at 3:34 PM

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

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  20. SondraApril 5, 2011 at 3:47 PM

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

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  21. genieApril 5, 2011 at 4:10 PM

    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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  22. Tess KincaidApril 5, 2011 at 4:41 PM

    Glorious capture, my friend.

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  23. Kai RuiApril 5, 2011 at 6:14 PM

    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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  24. Chubskulit RoseApril 5, 2011 at 7:06 PM

    Beautiful shots.

    My watery post.

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  25. Ruth HiebertApril 5, 2011 at 7:09 PM

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

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  26. UnknownApril 5, 2011 at 8:11 PM

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

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  27. fjällripanApril 6, 2011 at 12:20 AM

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

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  28. Kathie BrownApril 6, 2011 at 1:09 AM

    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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  29. Bill S.April 6, 2011 at 5:08 AM

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

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  30. PatApril 6, 2011 at 5:39 AM

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

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  31. AmilaApril 6, 2011 at 10:34 AM

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

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  32. Hilke BrederApril 6, 2011 at 12:14 PM

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

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  33. NaturegirlApril 6, 2011 at 6:40 PM

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

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  34. Pat UlrichApril 6, 2011 at 7:26 PM

    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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  35. Sara Chapman in Seattle, USAApril 6, 2011 at 9:47 PM

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

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  36. Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪April 7, 2011 at 3:01 PM

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

    Great photos.

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  37. Bella SinclairApril 7, 2011 at 5:51 PM

    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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  38. BeckyApril 8, 2011 at 7:16 AM

    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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  39. NicoleApril 14, 2011 at 2:27 AM

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

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