 | I always enjoy photographing Pelicans. I found these guys at Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge near Titonka and Bancroft, IA.. There is a a one-lane road from north to south through the wildlife refuge with almost no pull-outs. You can stop to view the birds in the slough as long as you like, until a car approaches behind you, then it is time to leave because the other cars likely can't get around you. It doesn't allow one much time for photos if there are others taking the drive also. These Pelicans are within viewing distance but not close to the road. I used the 500mm lens with a 1.4x teleconverter for a focal length of 700mm and still had to crop the photos some. |
Pelicans can be so graceful in flight and yet at other times so clumsy. The bird in the middle below is dragging his feet in the water while he pumps with his huge wings to get enough lift to get up out of the water. (Click an image to see larger)
Coming in for a landing below. It is amazing that somehow they find a place to land in the midst of a large flock of roosting pelicans on a very tiny protrusion of rocks. The bird on the right below seems to be scratching an itch while in flight.
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