Friday Pelicans

Today feels like a pelican kind of day.

I spent some time this last February hanging out with Brown Pelicans on the Gulf Coast. They're fascinating and watching them go about their day was a great way to de-stress.

They're so cool when they dive. I'll do a dedicated diving post at some point in the future. Every evening, they gathered in one particular area to go fishing.

I think one thing I love about pelicans is they're so big. Their wingspan is around 7 feet.

I watched a pair gathering nesting material from post-storm debris on some rocks.

They flew their sticks to an island nearby where many pelicans, egrets, and herons were also busy building nests.

 

This one found some nice greenery. 

This is an immature pelican toying with a cluster of leaves among a group of adults.

Here comes the squadron, on their way to their roosting island at sunset.

The photos above all show Brown Pelicans. I also spent a lot of time with American White Pelicans, which I will be posting about soon. 

 

Soaring birds

I can never pass up photographing a soaring bird. With their wings stretched out, you get an almost complete view of them, and can see feather details that are hidden when they are perched or on the ground. Below are some recent highlights of some of these high-fliers.

Roseate Spoonbills led by a White Ibis: 

Magnificent Frigatebird (female):

Great Egret:

Anhinga (female):

Male:

Little Blue Heron (adult):

Juvenile:

Snowy Egret:

Black Vulture:

Tricolored Heron:

Sandhill Cranes:

Swallow-Tailed Kite:

Checking in on the Tompkins Square Red-Tailed Hawks

I caught up with Charlie, the resident male Red-Tailed Hawk of Tompkins Square Park, when I stopped by earlier today. He was perched on the cross of St Brigid's church on Avenue B.

He stayed up there a few minutes before taking off and flying into the park.

Once inside the park, he perched above a flock of pigeons that was feeding on the ground and watched them for a while.

Apparently he wasn't interested in catching any of them, and he flew back to the roof of the church.

He then surprised me by dropping down to a ledge...

...where he proceeded to start plucking a pigeon he had apparently stashed up there.

After eating his fill, Charlie once again took off and headed back into the park.

Over a couple of hours, Charlie gave Amelia several breaks from the nest so she could fly around and stretch her wings. She never stayed out for long, but they were both very active. Charlie brought some sticks to the nest and stayed in close proximity. 

 

This is Amelia perched on the edge of the nest a few days ago. 

The hawk pair appears to be doing well. More to come.