Tag Archives: Brown Pelicans

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Rick and Teresa Denniston were out on the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands recently. One of their sightings was this flock of Brown Pelicans migrating north just over the bluffs. Rick said Teresa, pictured on the bluff, was wishing she could fly too.

A fun photo for you on this breezy June day here on the Mendonoma coast. Thanks to Rick for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

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Steve Coffey-Smith was watching the fun from the Gualala Bluff Trail recently. Brown pelicans were coming in for a landing. So graceful in the air, they can be downright clumsy as they land, webbed feet stretched out. You will be hard pressed not to laugh.

Version 2Here's one of my favorite pelican photos. Craig Tooley photographed a Brown pelican about to land. Was it a smooth landing or did this pelican do a pratfall? Only Craig knows. This photo appears in our book, Mendonoma Sightings Throughout the Year, in the November chapter.brown-pelican-pelecanus-occidentalis-coming-in-for-a-landing-nov-by-craig-tooleyah, we love the wonderful Brown pelicans. They were on the Endangered Species List because of the pesticide DDT. It made their eggshells so thin that the shells broke when the mother sat on them. With the banning of DDT in the 1960's, these birds have recovered, so much so that they are no longer listed on the ESL.

Thanks to Steve and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: www.ruffimage.com

 

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Brown pelicans continue to be seen heading north, while other birds have begun their southward migration. Grace O'Malley photographed a long string of Brown pelicans on a foggy day. You can see the wonderful Benny Bufano statue, which resides at Timber Cove Inn, in the background.

Necklace of Brown pelicans in the fog by Grace O'Malley

Here is a photo by Craig Tooley of an adult Brown pelican and a juvenile. Adults have white heads and dark underparts. Juveniles, born earlier this year to our south, have brown heads and white underparts.

Juvenile and an adult Brown JUL Pelican by Craig Tooley

We have had a very foggy August, and many are looking forward to our usually warm and bright September.

Thanks to Grace and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is the link to his website: www.ruffimage.com

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Rozann Grunig recently photographed the beachgoers at the mouth of the Russian River in Jenner. There was a lot of action! Well, maybe not so much from the relaxed Harbor Seals.

The beach at Jenner is crowded by Rozann Grunig

Rozann's photo shows many Brown Pelicans, Gulls, and some shorebirds. The juvenile Brown Pelicans are migrating north now. The young ones have brown heads and white underparts; the adults have white heads with brown underparts.

Thanks to Rozann for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

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Margaret Lindgren was out on the bluffs when she saw this huge flock of Brown Pelicans winging their way northward.

Squadron of Brown Pelicans by Margaret Lindgren

Here is a closer look at two adult Brown Pelicans with their white heads.

Two adult Brown Pelicans by Ken Bailey

These birds are being impacted by the oil spill off of Santa Barbara. I saw a photo of one of these beautiful birds completely coated in oil. We must find a way to never let this happen again.

Thanks to Margaret and Ken for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To learn about Margaret's amazing hiking tours here on the coast, here is her website: http://www.unbeatenpathtours.com/. And to see much more of Ken's nature photography, here is his website: http://www.seadreams.org/.