Thursday, January 6, 2011

White pelican party at Circle B Bar Reserve - Skywatch Friday














What is it about the white pelicans showing up at Circle B that is so much fun? My guess is that we don't see them that often in Florida except in the winter. And you rarely find them around the gulf coast side, although you may catch a far away glimpse of the small group that hangs out near Fort Desoto. They say that there are up to several thousand at Circle B right now. The pelicans fly back and forth between Lake Hancock and the marsh pond at Wading Bird Way trail. Almost all day you can see small groups of pelicans flying overhead back and forth. No one has been able to tell me why they do that. Unlike the brown pelican, the white pelican does not dive for its food. Instead it catches its prey while swimming. They swim in small groups and scoop up the fish. There are already fish kills from the severe cold weather this year. If it keeps up the pelicans will be leaving soon. I think last winter they were all gone by February. Hopefully, I can fit a couple of more trips in before they leave this winter.

For more skyscape photography from around the world, visit http://skyley.blogspot.com/.

10 comments:

  1. Très beaux ces pelicans,
    photos bien reussies !

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  2. You must have a good lens to these captures. Nice clicking!

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  3. I have become smitten with pelicans since more have shown up on our MN lakes as well as a trip to the CA coast this fall where I watched them skim the surf.
    Beautiful photos all!

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  4. Very nice, very pretty! =)

    Happy SWF!

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  5. I just love Pelicans, they are cool looking birds. Great photos! Happy Skywatching!

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  6. Oh, Dina, your pictures here, and in the last couple of posts, make me so envious!!!

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  7. Wow - wonderful pictures of the white pelican. Amazing! Great shots!

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