Galveston and Pelicans 2017

On a very windy day in early March Dave Billingsley and I expected the birds to be less active. To our surprise the area was full of movement. It appears the wind-churned waters may have driven the fish to sheltered areas, one of which was right by the shrimp boat docks. Some pelicans were feeding close to the docks which afforded an opportunity for the action shots you see here. Distances to the diving Pelicans were as little as 10 yards, but averaged 25-30 yards.
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  • aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 1329B, 70 pct

    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 1329B, 70 pct

  • aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 005A

    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 005A

  • White Pelocan in mating plumage.

    White Pelocan in mating plumage.

    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 028A

  • aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 050A

    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 050A

  • Brown Pelican as it leaves its perch.

    Brown Pelican as it leaves its perch.

    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 290A

  • Adult male Red-breasted Merganser in breeding plumage.

    Adult male Red-breasted Merganser in breeding plumage.

    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 403A, Merganser at considerable distance

  • The view behind us as we photographed the birds.

    The view behind us as we photographed the birds.

    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 308A, mosquito fleet

  • White Pelican protests another trying to take its perch.

    White Pelican protests another trying to take its perch.

    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 515A, don't even think about it

  • Red-breasted Merganser.

    Red-breasted Merganser.

    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 411A

  • aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 527A

    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 527A

  • aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 645A

    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 645A

  • Cormorant close up.

    Cormorant close up.

    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 657A

  • Close pelican flyby.

    Close pelican flyby.

    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 756B, close Brown Pelican flyby

  • A Franklin's Gull tries to steal pelican's catch.

    A Franklin's Gull tries to steal pelican's catch.

    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 732A, gull tries to steal pelican's catch

  • This pelican tried to swallow a fish but was having no luck.

    This pelican tried to swallow a fish but was having no luck.

    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 674A, fish hung up in throat

  • aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 779A, flying Brown Pelican frontal view

    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 779A, flying Brown Pelican frontal view

  • Brown Pelican enters water. The last few feet of the plunge were fast and hard to follow unless I backed off the zoom.

    Brown Pelican enters water. The last few feet of the plunge were fast and hard to follow unless I backed off the zoom.

    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 865A

  • aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 952A

    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 952A

  • aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 976A

    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 976A

  • aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 977A

    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 977A

  • aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 1001A

    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 1001A

  • aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 1020A, flyby, view from the front

    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 1020A, flyby, view from the front

  • aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 1023A, Dive 1

    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 1023A, Dive 1

  • aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 1024B, Dive 2

    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 1024B, Dive 2

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    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 1329B, 70 pct.jpg
    aaGalveston 3-3-2017 Pelicans 005A.jpg