Who Knew A Bath Could Be So Much Fun?!?

Last week we were very amused to be watching this brown pelican having such an active bath in the salt marsh. He was beating the water with his wings, and splashing like he hadn’t been near water in weeks, and really seemed to be enjoying himself.

Well, as you can see in the last photo, the efforts sure paid off with terrific results. That pelican is practically gleaming he is so clean!

56 thoughts on “Who Knew A Bath Could Be So Much Fun?!?”

pixelspielerei on March 20, 2013 at 12:57 pm said:

He is bright like a glimmering mirror! 😉

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- Phil Lanoue on March 20, 2013 at 3:29 pm said:
  
  He is very bright, and very clean! 😀
  
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Maggie Davey on March 20, 2013 at 1:00 pm said:

Wow, all that hard work certainly paid off – he looks so handsome!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 20, 2013 at 3:30 pm said:
  
  He does look rather handsome, well for a pelican. 😉 Thanks very much Maggie!
  
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Maleea Brooks on March 20, 2013 at 1:03 pm said:

Phil, I love your writing as much as your photography. Even if I couldn’t see the pictures, your words tell such great stories. You bring the marsh alive to us. Thank you!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 20, 2013 at 3:30 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much for your kind comments Maleea, I greatly appreciate it.
  
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janmasyn on March 20, 2013 at 1:08 pm said:

He looks clean to me, excellent captures Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 20, 2013 at 3:31 pm said:
  
  Oh yes he is quite clean Jan, thanks!
  
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edithlevyphotography on March 20, 2013 at 1:14 pm said:

Fantastic shots Phil. It does look like he’s having a lot of fun.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 20, 2013 at 3:32 pm said:
  
  Thanks Edith! I think he was having fun, he was doing it for quite a while and there were other pelicans around but none of them felt they needed to bathe.
  
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Chillbrook on March 20, 2013 at 1:19 pm said:

Aww I love that last picture, he’s looking very coy. Fabulous series Phil. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on March 20, 2013 at 3:33 pm said:
  
  Thanks Adrian, he looked like he just had to get at that one last spot once he was done with principle bathing.
  The finishing touches I expect. 🙂
  
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Jon Rista on March 20, 2013 at 1:31 pm said:

Oh yeah, he’s having way too much fun! 😛 He does look very nice and clean at the end, though! Great shots, BTW! Clear, sharp, colorful.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 20, 2013 at 3:34 pm said:
  
  He did seem to be having a great time plus out of several pelicans in the marsh he was the only one that went through anything near that much of a bathing ritual.
  Glad you enjoyed these!
  
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Cowboys and Crossbones on March 20, 2013 at 1:38 pm said:

I’m sure you probably already assumed this, but I bathe like a pelican. 🙂 Gorgeous photos – and I love the serious fun this bird is having!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 20, 2013 at 3:36 pm said:
  
  Oh I 100% imagined, uh, I mean pictured, uh I mean, well you know what I mean… that you bathed like a pelican. 😀
  Thanks for checkin’ out these pelican pics!
  
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WinstonePhotography on March 20, 2013 at 1:42 pm said:

SUCH awesome shots! He looks like he is having a grand ole time 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on March 20, 2013 at 3:36 pm said:
  
  I truly appreciate your very kind comments, thanks!
  
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  - WinstonePhotography on March 20, 2013 at 3:50 pm said:
    
    It is only the truth 🙂
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on March 20, 2013 at 3:52 pm said:
      
      Thank you. 😳
      
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lylekrahn on March 20, 2013 at 1:45 pm said:

Action and then the pose, you got it all. I wonder if that works as well on humans.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 20, 2013 at 3:37 pm said:
  
  Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed these!
  Why not try it out tonight in your tub?!
  
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dinajohnston on March 20, 2013 at 2:02 pm said:

Beautiful bath shots with the water drops! Nice color in the pelican.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 20, 2013 at 3:37 pm said:
  
  Thank you Dina, I’m very glad you liked these!
  
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adinparadise on March 20, 2013 at 2:13 pm said:

Gorgeous sequence of photos, Phil. He really knows how to shimmy in that water, and the last pic is a lovely contrast where he’s looking so clean and well groomed. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on March 20, 2013 at 3:39 pm said:
  
  Thanks a million Sylvia! Yes, that last photo really showed off how well his technique worked for him. It should be a poster in some pelican beauty salon. Or even a pelican saloon (if they have those) 🙂
  
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  - adinparadise on March 20, 2013 at 3:57 pm said:
    
    Saloon sounds good, Phil. 😆
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on March 20, 2013 at 4:28 pm said:
      
      Sure does!
      
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Lisa Gordon on March 20, 2013 at 2:30 pm said:

This is just way too sweet.
Beautifully photographed!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 20, 2013 at 3:40 pm said:
  
  Thank you much Lisa, I really appreciate your very kind words!
  
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Amy on March 20, 2013 at 5:40 pm said:

Wow, the splash he made was really cool! The last one was like he knew he was so good looking 🙂
Love the sequence of the shots.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 20, 2013 at 7:50 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much Amy! I’m so glad you liked these pelican photos!
  He looks like he knows he looks sharp. Well…as sharp as a pelican ever can look. 🙂
  
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meyer23 on March 20, 2013 at 6:49 pm said:

A really hot series. Can’t get enough of those pics. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on March 20, 2013 at 7:50 pm said:
  
  I appreciate your kind comments and so glad you like the pics!
  
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Garden Walk Garden Talk on March 20, 2013 at 8:00 pm said:

Made me smile. Birds always love bath time. I have a cockatoo and you should see him kick up the water, the whole room gets a bath too.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 20, 2013 at 8:07 pm said:
  
  Thanks a million! I’m glad you got a smile out of these photos. 🙂
  I’ll bet your cockatoo does make quite a splash!
  
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Bella Remy Photography on March 20, 2013 at 8:13 pm said:

What a fantastic splash bath he had. Looks like he was having wonderful fun. Great captures Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 20, 2013 at 8:15 pm said:
  
  Thanks Emily, yes he had some crazy bath alright! He looks all nicely spiffed up now though. 🙂
  
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Gunta on March 20, 2013 at 9:09 pm said:

Spring cleaning?

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:44 am said:
  
  I bet that’s it! Who doesn’t want to look all bright and shiny for Spring?! 😀
  
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Steve Schwartzman on March 20, 2013 at 10:08 pm said:

You had a great opportunity and took good advantage of it.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:44 am said:
  
  Thanks Steve, I appreciate you looking and commenting!
  
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Charlie@Seattle Trekker on March 20, 2013 at 10:41 pm said:

As always the photos are top notch, and they are so much fun to look at, thank you.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:44 am said:
  
  Much thanks for your kind words I appreciate it.
  
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niasunset on March 21, 2013 at 7:36 am said:

How amazing photographer you are, dear Phil. Every time you come back with a new touches with all these same birds, animals, etc. How I love your photography. These are should be the most beautiful bath time shots that I have ever seen. And do you know how inspirational too… I really wish to make a painting one of them one day… If you don’t mind. Thank you, Blessing and Happiness, love, nia

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:46 am said:
  
  Thank you so much Nia for all your very kind words I greatly appreciate it! You of course can use any of my photos for paintings I would be quite pleased to know you did that. 🙂
  I am also so glad you have been enjoying these pics!
  
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  - niasunset on March 28, 2013 at 5:08 am said:
    
    http://photographyofnia.com/2013/03/28/inspiration-of-a-photograph-phil-lanoue/
    Thank you dear Phil, I think this group is one of my best of best among your photographs… I hope you like what I did. Blessing and Happiness, Love, nia
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on March 29, 2013 at 8:10 am said:
      
      Hi Nia,
      I can not see the post of this, it doesn’t open up to anything.
      I would love to see it.
      Cheers
      Phil
      
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Katariina Partala on March 21, 2013 at 11:03 am said:

Hahahahahahaha!!! He’s so cute and funny!!! 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:46 am said:
  
  He is cute and funny! 😀 Thanks for looking!
  
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mariayarri on March 21, 2013 at 4:54 pm said:

Fantastic photos of the Pelican ! He really knows how to have fun when he gets clean 🙂 .
And he made me laugh, so thank you for that ! // Maria

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:47 am said:
  
  I’m very happy you enjoyed these pelican photos Maria and happy to know you got a laugh out of them as well. 🙂
  
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roughseasinthemed on March 21, 2013 at 6:20 pm said:

That last one is just wonderful. What a handsome darling he is.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:47 am said:
  
  Thanks, yes indeed he is quite the looker. 🙂
  
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suburbanferndaleark on March 24, 2013 at 5:07 pm said:

Like the words to that old Bobby Darrin’ song “Splish splash, I was takin’ a bath!”

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- Phil Lanoue on March 29, 2013 at 8:01 am said:
  
  Yup that sounds about right! 🙂
  
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