One of my favorite birds, Brown Pelicans have been seen riding the thermals along the coastline. Richard Hansen photographed the returning adults.
Adult Brown Pelicans have white heads and brown underparts. The juveniles with their brown heads and white underparts will be seen once they have grown strong enough to undertake the migration.
Thanks to Richard for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
We are having lovely, warm days though changes are ahead. With little wind, a walk on the bluffs can bring wonderful sightings. One of the best, I believe, is the sighting of Brown Pelicans. Sometimes they will land on a bluff to rest and then take off on their journey. That's what Harm Wilkinson recently photographed.
There are several adult Brown Pelicans here. You can tell because they have white heads. Also, their underparts are gray. There is one juvenile with its brown head and white underpart.
Brown Pelicans plunge dive for fish. Pat Killen got this amazing photo just before the Pelican's beak enters the water.
Thanks to Harm and Pat for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
Rick and I were enjoying the beautiful Thursday morning, looking at the wildflowers and hoping to see some Gray Whales. We were just south of Black Point Beach. There's a rock where a few Western Gulls are nesting. As we approached, a squadron of Brown Pelicans flew by, almost at eye level. It's our first sighting of them this spring.
These are adult Brown Pelicans. You can see their white heads.
At this point the Pelicans headed towards land and they gained altitude before heading off to the north.
They are air surfers! It is always thrilling to see them as they glide across the sky.
To see a close-up of an adult Brown Pelican, here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/04/26/brown-pelican-splash-down-as-photographed-by-siegfried-matull/
Brown Pelicans are migrating north, flying in formation just off coastal bluffs. Paul Brewer recently photographed a beautiful Pelican and has kindly shared his photo with us.
There is something about Brown Pelicans that makes your heart sing. Is it their recovery from the disastrous effects of DDT? Is it their grace in the air? Is it the way they use air currents to skim the bluffs? Their big beak? Perhaps it is all of the above. I can tell you one thing - we love the Brown Pelicans that grace us with their presence this time of year!
Thursday was such a lovely day on the Mendonoma Coast. Rick and I, with Huckleberry, our Golden Retriever, walked the Gualala Bluff Trail. We were amazed to see the level of the river had dropped so low. It was, however, still open to the Pacific Ocean. And the river was so clear that Rick saw a Steelhead swimming towards the river opening.
A couple was sitting on the sandbar when this squadron of Brown Pelicans approached.
And "Debbie" is obviously loved! This is river bottom, usually covered with water.
Some of the flowers currently blooming along the beautiful Gualala Bluff Trail.
