American White Pelicans
Last week I was quite surprised to see a small group of white pelicans come gliding in from the ocean side and head out over the salt marsh. I say surprised because the American White Pelican is not a very common bird for our area. We are much more likely to see the brown pelican. The white pelican is a very large bird and has the second largest wing span of any bird in the United States, only the California Condor has a bigger wing span.
This group took a nice wide circle over the marsh pond providing me with some excellent views, before finally heading off into the sun.
Phil Lanoue Photography 
These pelicans look almost cartoon like Phil. Wonderful shots of a very impressive bird! 🙂
They absolutely do look very cartoon like Adrian you are correct about that. Big goofy birds for sure. Thanks and glad you liked the photos.
Are the spoonbills gone? Frank
I saw two yesterday.
WOW! Dear Phil, I haven’t seen such a team like that 🙂 This is so beautiful and so lovely, you always make/capture a new image, Thank you, love, nia
I am very happy you enjoyed these Nia, thank you! 😀
Did not know they were second only to the condor. I was lucky enough to see some condors during my stay in Big Sur about a year ago. Very impressive birds, both the condors and your pelicans.
I never saw a condor but I expect they are quite a sight. These WPs are a good size bird for sure.
Beautiful photos of the pelicans in flight. Also liked your osprey and bald eagle photos very much.
Thanks much David I appreciate you checking them out.
You have surpassed yourself yet again, Phil! These pictures are stunning! What amazing birds these are – I think our old Hercules aircraft must have been based on their shape! Do these pelicans migrate to different areas?
Thank you so much for your very kind words Maggie and I ma sure many aircraft designs started by looking at various bird. 🙂 I don’t know where these were headed but we do not often see them at all in our area.
Bellissimi, sembrano in formazione aerea 🙂
Splendide le foto, sei super!!!
Ciaooo
Fanno fare una bella formazione durante il volo. Grazie per guardare queste foto.
PS We watched pelicans like these feeding on the Swan River, in Perth, Australia, a few years ago. Fantastic birds, they look almost too heavy to take off!
They are amazing to watch when they feed. These birds fish much differently then our regular brown pelicans.
Fabulous shots!
Thanks very much for looking!
Excellent flight studies.
Thank you for checking these out and glad you enjoyed them.
Great flight-photos!
Thanks Hans I’m glad you liked them!
What an artistic display. They really are graceful in flight.
They do make quite a display don’t they?! Even the brown pelicans look graceful in flight but they are a mess when they hit the water. 🙂
These are some beautiful shots of these graceful gliders. Thanks!
I greatly appreciate you looking and commenting Lee, thanks!
Your first commenter took the words out of my mouth. They are so surreal flying in a group that they look like a cartoon. What fine captures. I bet not many people have photographed they flying in a “flock”.
They are quite a sight indeed. They are such large birds adn interesting and comical at the same time. 🙂
What a fantastic collection, Phil! They are like a squadron of precision pelicans showing off overhead. Super.images!
Thaks very much Steve, there were really impressive to see, I’m hoping some return soon.
Wonderful! They look like the Blue Angels!
These big birds sure do know how to fly in formation!
Exactly!
Beautiful shots! Hopefully they are heading my way.
Thanks and they could be, the last time I saw them they were headed south. Along with the spoonies and probably some wood storks.
Not sure where you are located but, by contrast, in my town in Central Florida we have many white pelicans, but rarely brown pelicans. Interesting that they don’t dive for fish like the browns, but form a group and “herd” fish into shallow pools.
Great shots!
I am in the coastal SC area just south of Myrtle Beach. We usually have brown pelicans coming out of our ears but rarely the American White Pelican.
I’m betting you folks are seeing the spoonbills there as well now.
Thanks for checking out these shots!
Amazing photos, Phil. Love the close flight formations. They look so graceful. 🙂
There are a treat for us Sylvia for sure! Thanks for checking out these photos!
Very nice photos. I must say, they all look a little chubby. Perhaps that explains why they have such a large wing span. 🙂
I suppose in the bird world, like the alligator world, chubby is a good thing. That means you are getting plenty to
eat. 🙂
Thanks for looking Deb!
Maybe those pelicans are from our part of the world! They are beautiful birds – being large helps.
They could be, although the last time I saw any they were headed south. But I know they go all over.
Great flight shots Phil.
Thank you very much Jan.
What a shame. No meeting with Mr. Grumpy.
That may be our grumpy pal in the background in this shot from August.
https://phillanoue.com/2013/08/21/the-pelican-parade/white-pelican-parade-past-wood-storks-01/
A bit of confession: I have never realised I am so fascinated with birds till I discovered your blog. These pelicans photos are incredible. I hate repeating myself, but they are.
Well that is so nice of you to say that Paula, really makes me feel good to hear!
I’m am very happy to know you enjoy the bird photos and I’m with you on these pelicans, they are a thrill to see!
Thanks!