White Pelicans
The past two days we have been thrilled with a large group of American White Pelicans that decided to make a stopover in the marsh pond. We counted 28 of these amazing large birds and the last time we saw even one was December 2012.
In the first group photo you can see our pal Mr. A gliding by near the two wood storks on the right. In the last group photo, even though they are quite far off, you should be able to make out a roseate spoonbill coming in for a landing in among a group of these pelicans. We hope they plan to stick around but it’s quite possible our marsh is just a temporary rest stop on their way to the next location…
Phil Lanoue Photography 
Fabulous images Phil. Love that first one.
Thanks very much Edith.
Love these pics, Phil, especially those in flight pics and the reflections pics.
Thank you, glad you like these pelican photos.
These are incredibly great photos! Even with formation-of-4-swimming!
I also love pelicans. Look here, if you like:
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At my blog you’ll see them often. But you know that! 😉
I am very happy you enjoyed the pelican photos!
Wonderful shots of that magnificent bird. I never get tired of watching them fly.
It’s actually a rare treat for us to see white pelicans. I can go to the beach and see brown pelicans all day long but maybe see the white ones a couple times a year and even those are mostly fly bys, they don’t normally stop.
And I’ve never seen a brown pelican live – it just seems wrong.
This past Spring there was a brown pelican hanging around that if you didn’t close the door fast enough when you were leaving he would hop into the car with you. This was a wild bird too.
Wow, Phil! These are absolutely brilliant! I wish we have those here too.
Thanks Gracie, we were very happy this group stopped in and hung around. I even drove over in the rain today to check on them and 16 were still there. 🙂
Wow, really great photos, Phil. Love the closeups and the rippled reflections, too. And Mr. A – how does he manage to get into so many of your shots?! 🙂 I’ve seen flocks of white pelicans on the Sacramento River in Northern California, but had to go to the bird book to figure out what they were. I don’t think they were around when I was a kid there.
I’ll tell ya, that Mr. A sure does seem to be everywhere doesn’t he?! What a camera hog!
These birds are a rare treat for us we normally only see brown pelicans. Glad you like the photos Deb!
Great bunch of pictures Phil. The last one is real cool with the pelicans and the spoonie in flight.
Thanks for checking them out and I appreciate your very kind comments!
All are very nice shots, Phil, especially the flight shots. But my favorites are the two with four pelicans. Each lineup is really interesting how they relate to each other.
Thanks a bunch Steve, glad you enjoyed these! Those lineup shots were the brief opportunity I had to get them in close. They have been her for three days now and always seem to cling to the far end of the marsh pond such as seen in the two large group photos, they were quite a ways out.
So much to love here. Your Pelicans looks so CLEAN compared to our brown ones. Particular favorites were the landing and the twin reflections. Simply beautiful. Tossing the spoonies in there was just over the top! 😀
I have brown pelicans coming out of my ears but these white ones are rare visitors for us and even more rare to see a large group. I’m happy you enjoyed the photos and you had to figure both the spoonie and Mr. A would feel compelled to sneak in there somehow. 😀
Such hams in front of the camera!!
The camera is an alligator magnet. 🙂
Love every single one of them! The one that they lined up is so special, the last one is simply beautiful,and love to see how they fly…
Thanks very much Amy, I was very excited to have this group visit the area and despite a heavy rain today I had to cruise by the marsh and take a quick look. There were still 16 white pelicans out there and two spoonies. Too bad I couldn’t stay out and get pics.
Perfect flying shots! I hope they are heading here although we usually don’t see them until around December.
December was the last time I remember seeing any and don’t ever recall seeing them here in summer. Wonder where they flew in from?
Glad you like the pics!
I like how Spoonie has such a look of authority on his face in the fly-in. You photos are wonderful and I like the Pelican convention at the beginning of the post, chaired by the storks.
Also notice how spoonie color coordinates with the pink wild flowers in the background. 🙂
Thanks, I’m very happy you like these photos!
Awesome set Phil! I had the opportunity to get some shots of White Pelicans in the Grand Tetons this past June.
The males had this cool looking disc on their beaks. The first one I saw made me think it was a defect and I was
thinking I was going to have to clone out the defect 🙂 Little did I know it is normal during the breeding season.
Happy Shooting1
I have yet to see one with that breeding ‘centerboard’ on the ridge of their bill. But of course I rarely see any at all so it’s a treat when even one or two show up but even better to see this large group. The past two days we have 16 still hanging in, but it’s also been raining steady.
Thanks very much for looking and commenting Ricky!
Awesome! Hopefully they will b there tomorrow and it won’t be raining!
Glad you like these! There are some still around but the rain is also still around.
Well done!
Thanks I appreciate that!
Aaarg! You are so lucky Phil. We used to get Dalmatian Pelicans at Mai Po but they don’t come to visit these days. I would love to see a group like this. Brilliant photos.
Thanks Andrew, I was totally thrilled to see this group come in and was able to get some shots. There still are 16 hanging in at the pond but it’s also still raining pretty good.
Wonderful shots Phil, excellent wildlife photography.
Thanks very much Jan I appreciate that.
I fall in love with their harmony and flights… Thank you, love, nia
I am very happy you like these Nia, thanks!
Amazing shots as always Phill. :)…gorgeous birds they are
Thank you very much and there are cool looking birds and I was thrilled to be able to view and photograph them!
Thank you for sharing, makes my day!!
I’m so happy you enjoyed these Lynn, thanks!
I have always admired your mastery in photography, but this time you have even outdone yourself…. I am speechless.
Wow Paula! Thanks so much for your very kind words I greatly appreciate that!
What stunning birds!! You’ve captured them beautifully, Phil. I really love your amazing wildlife photos. A real feast for my eyes. Bless you.
Thank you so much for looking and commenting and I truly appreciate your very kind comments!
I absolutely love number 2. And 11, so funny, my first thought: “Wow, the Andrew Sisters”. 🙂
Or…could be the Pep Boys… Manny Moe and Jack. 😀
Thanks for checking these out and glad you enjoyed them!
Amazing looking birds, and great images of them!
They are very cool birds and I’m glad you like the photos!
I love these, Phil! The way you get the contrast is brilliant! The last time I saw pelicans was on the Swan River, In Perth, Australia, in 2001. I have never forgotten the grace of these birds. Memories! Thank you, Phil!
Thank you very much for looking and commenting Maggie, glad you liked these!
Amazing photos, Phil. Love them all, but I especially love the reflection pics with the pelicans in tight and tidy formation. 🙂
They are a nice neat group aren’t they?! 🙂 Thanks a million Slyvia.