Brown Pelicans - Part 2

As we suffer through this heatwave, let's cool off with some Brown Pelicans.

They skim the water with seemingly little effort, then slowly glide up, twist to the side, and suddenly make a corkscrew dive.

I could watch this all day - and I did! For several days in early spring, watching pelicans dive was my way to relax and focus on the present.

Cormorants dive after the pelicans, hoping to steal their catch.

Laughing Gulls also follow the pelicans as they go fishing.

This is an immature pelican casually skimming the water.

Just one slow wing beat is all it takes to keep up the momentum.

This is an adult in breeding plumage. Up close, they're really beautiful with dark burgundy feathers lining the backs of their necks.

Some Brown Pelicans have been spotted this week off the shore of Staten Island. Keep an eye out for giant gray birds with huge bills diving or flying in squadron formation.

 

 

First Tompkins Square hawk fledge

This is just a quick note to say we've had our first hawk fledge of the season in Tompkins Square. The first of three Red-Tailed Hawk chicks has taken the leap, and the other two are expected to follow shortly. 

Everybody take care in the heat today!

Brown Pelicans - Part 1

Earlier this spring, I made several posts about American White Pelicans. 

Now for some Brown Pelicans!

I photographed the White Pelicans at a lake in St Petersburg, Florida. From there, it was short walk to the shore of Tampa Bay where the Brown Pelicans put on a show each evening. 

Whereas the White Pelicans hunt in coordinated groups and scoop fish out of the water with their giant bills, Brown Pelicans employ a completely different hunting strategy: Diving.

Watching them really soothed my soul and raised my spirits.

This one carries some nesting material.

I couldn't get enough of these guys and took a zillion photos, so there will be more to come. They're such amazing birds and fascinating to watch.

Preparing for hawk fledge time

We're getting close to fledge time for the Tompkins Square hawk chicks. All three are looking great and I hope we get to see them around the park very soon. Until then, here are some photos from last week.

Mom Amelia perches in the nest next to one of her kids who is almost as tall as her. 

The young ones have yellowish chests, which is one way to distinguish them from the adults.

Here are two little fuzzy heads hunkered down in the wind.

This may be the only photo I have of all three siblings lined up and facing the same direction.

Big yawn...

Two of the three siblings:

Mom Amelia on the left, a chick standing, and another lying down in front of them.

Practicing some wing flaps:

This photo shows two chicks and dad Charlie (back right), which surprised me at the time. Both last year and this last spring, I have rarely seen him spend time on the nest. He usually delivers food, then takes off. This time, he brought some dinner and stuck around.

Dad was replaced by mom Amelia (right).

This is Amelia and Charlie perched together on the roof of the Christodora on a cloudy evening. They seem relaxed and to have everything under control.

Looking forward to more exciting updates coming soon.