australian pelican

Australian Pelican

Australian Pelican

I saw a Pelican coming and managed to get a picture of him in flight and it was only then that we noticed the smoke building up in the distance. A rather serious looking bush fire. There'd been awful fires burning before I arrived in Australia but, coming from Scotland I brought some rain...

A little distant, and a big zoom and crop thereafter too, were this group (well only a little part of it really). In there is an Australian Pelican, three Black Swans and a load of Grey Teal.

Making our way back home, we called in to Emu Point, where Oyster Harbour exits through a narrow channel into Frenchman's Bay and the open sea. We drove round to the sort of port area where I spotted a load of birds sitting on the pontoons. Mostly Australian Pelicans and Little Pied Cormorants.

Do they sing? LOL. Well he looks pretty happy anyway. Another species in the line-up on the shingle. I still can't get over how big they are.

We then made our way onto the viewing platform which juts out into the river. Not too far off on what looks like a pole placed for birds to perch on was an Australian Pelican. Huge beasties!!

I was rather surprised when suddenly two pelicans flew overhead! I'd previously only seen these on the coast, or very close-by.

After boarding the boat we actually got a little nearer to part of the sandbar, so I managed to get a picture of this preening Pelican.

.... even next to the large terns who looked tiny in comparison. He does look rather pleased with himself in this pose I thought.

We then moved round to a different part of the Lindum Wetlands and had a bit of a squeeze through the fence. The first bird to come into view was this Pelican.

Back at the lake a large group of Pelicans sailed in and started what I can only think was a fishing session!

There were also some Pelicans, in fact quite a few, in the lake. I think that may be a Black Duck swimming through too.

Seeing these close up it still amazed me as to how Pelicans can take off... they're really huge LOL. This one came flying past and I just managed to get a couple of shots before he was away.

Local wetlands are rapidly drying out and these Pelicans are getting raher muddy in the search for food .

Not a lifer, but I was so charmed by the "pose" that I had to process the shot.

I was surprised to find Pelicans lurking on the Wollondilly River, being a good 60 kms inland from the coast, as the crow flies. I am wondering if the black birds would be a type of cormorant. Only fresh water fish in the Wollondilly, and mostly carp these days. Unfortunately my compact Canon...

Australian Pelican