Friday, February 25, 2011

Brown Pelican photo shoot

Howdee all,

Here in Florida the Brown Pelicans know where to hang out…

Your local fish cleaning station…Hutchinson Island_103Waiting for some easy fish to come in…Hutchinson Island_105

If anyone knows my wardrobe color scheme~they know I wear mostly Brown and Beige..so ..these birds remind me of my wardrobe..:)

  I Love the brown and beige colors of these pelican against the blue water.Hutchinson Island_111Look at that blob of cute…Hutchinson Island_112I had a great time shooting away…

Juvenile dirty brown all over with white belly, pale line along middle of underwing. Bill gray-brown. Yearling similar, but more gray on back and with some white feathers on sides of head and neck. Bill becomes paler and may have some yellow or orange.

Hutchinson Island_116Adult…

Adult Breeding
Plumage is primarily gray and brown, marked with a blackish belly, yellowish head, and chestnut or cinnamon brown nape and hindneck (Terres 1980; Farrand 1983; Harrison 1996).

Adult Non-breeding
Plumage is similar but duller to that of the adult coloration during the summer season (Farrand 1983; Harrison 1996).  The nape and hindneck are mostly white with occasional tinges of yellow. via Smithsonian research at Fort Pierce website

 

Hutchinson Island_121Both Sexes have the same coloration at each phase.Hutchinson Island_118Striking…colors of the adult..Hutchinson Island_137While the Browns of the juvies blend into a warm softness..

Hutchinson Island_122 What color scheme is more attractive to you?Hutchinson Island_123The more dramatic yellows, brown-black and gray with the pop of red around the eye?

Or the warm brown tones of the young Pelicans?Hutchinson Island_128Take a look at both color schemes together…

Adult and Juvenile

I like them both..but I favor the warm browns..

Hutchinson Island_127Oh…..Have you seen those feet?Hutchinson Island_130

Big and webbed they hold up this large critter…Hutchinson Island_142I know..what your thinking just about now..…

Allot of Pelican photos!…

ha…

If you know me I am not one to easily weed photos …

Although, I really did take out lots..

Really I did .:)Hutchinson Island_154Juvi and AdultHutchinson Island_156This one looks like a painting…

Ok..humor me…

Yes..Dawn, it looks just like a painting!

Hutchinson Island_194Alligator? Hutchinson Island_163Nope..just the end of this awesome bill…Hutchinson Island_165

While looking at all these Brown beauties…Hutchinson Island_192

I noticed this fellow…

and what caught my attention was its feet…Hutchinson Island_201Quite different than the Black beautiful feet above…these are worn and gray and very old looking…cuts in the side of the leg…

And it was banded…Hutchinson Island_198I tried to capture all of the number…it looks like

1118- I couldn’t make out the number to call or where it was from…

I have been spending the morning googling to find out where to report the tagged bird…anyone out there know who to call?Hutchinson Island_202

Ok..that’s enough of Pelicans for now, I need to go back and get some shots of the pouch…these fellas were relaxing so they weren't showing off that famous pouch..more to come next photo shoot.. :)

In the meantime…you MUST go check out my

Featured Bird Blogger of the Week

At Birdingblogs.com

You are going to love the photos!

20 comments:

  1. Excellent shots of the preen gland on #3 and #5!

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  2. I love the bold coloring of the adult brown pelican. Unfortunately, I can't get the image of the pelicans covered in oil. It will take awhile.

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  3. Hey Dawn, here's a link to report bands http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/homepage/call800.htm. Too bad he didn't have a colored site band like what you can see on the IBRRC.org page. Pelicans are awesome aren't they!

    Cheryl

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  4. Hey Dawn
    You'll never have too many for me :-)
    Love'em all and you took some detailed ones too (head, feet, band)
    that is really interesting to me.

    Thanks for the nice post

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  5. Great bunch of pelican shots! The colors of both adult and juve are right. Wow, those really are big feet, except for that last one. Hope you figure that one out and let us know.

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  6. Love the monofilament line holder in the first photo. I wish they were required in CA. Maybe we wouldn't have so many birds with fishing line injuries.

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  7. Really enjoyed this pelican tour! But... That fifth photo is AMAZING! Really, gorgeous image. I don't know why, but I keep going back to look at it again! :)

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  8. Love these shots Dawn! Love these birds!

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  9. Beautiful shots. I have never seen a brown pelican, we only have the white ones here.

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  10. Another superb photo essay! well done! Being inland here in Dallas, I never get to see pelicans..... what a treat your blog is!

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  11. I just LOVE Pelicans no matter what color they are... They are magnificient birds and I really love to see them soaring through the air so gracefully! Beautiful photos...
    Have fun & travel safe
    Donna

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  12. Loved your blog and the pictures you have put up.. truly inspiring stuff

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  13. Great shots of the Pelicans, Dawn! They are cool looking birds.

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  14. You mentioned pelicans in your more recent post and I had to peek - I absolutely adore pelicans! Gorgeous photos.

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  15. Hello Dawn,
    What a wonderfull pictures of this lovely birds. Very Nice!! I like this pictures really very much.
    I go follow your blog, because I like your pictures!!

    Greatings, Marco

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  16. Gorgeous Pelican photos Dawn! It looks like you're having a great time in Florida ;-) I wish I were there. I really enjoyed your story of falling in love with that beautiful crab too. I'll have to go leave a comment down there!

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  17. Thanks friends for all your kind comments on the Pelican post and photos..
    Thanks Cheryl for the link :)

    I never got back to that location for more photos! Oh well...next time!

    Hope you all have a wonderful weekend..
    Now its time for me to visit everyone..and try and catch up on some blog reading!

    Thanks again!!!

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  18. They are so cool. Great shots sicksta!!!

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  19. Love Pelicans Dawn. Luciana's favorite bird as well.

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  20. It must be great to have interesting birds like pelicans to cooperate with having their picture taken and you sure did make the most of it. Great job Dawn!

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ok what do you really think?????