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Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
The Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is a common resident of most of the coast line of the United States, especially the southern United States and California. It ranges south through coastal areas of Mexico, Central America and into Venezuela. This shot of an adult Brown Pelican in flight was taken at Boca Chica, Cameron Co., Texas, in April, 1999 with a Canon EOS 1N and EF 300mm F4 L IS lens with a 1.4X extender on Fuji Sensia.
This shot is from quite some time ago, taken in September, 1988 on a pelagic trip off of Monterey, Monterey Co., California. I'm sure I used a 400mm F/5.6 lens, but I'm not sure of the camera at this time.
The next 3 shots were taken at the Fort Meyers / Sanibel Causeway, Lee Co., Florida, in December, 2004, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 300mm F/2.8 lens with a 2X extender. These shots show immature Brown Pelicans as they dove toward the water while hunting.
 
An immature Laughing Gull is trying to steal food from the pelican in this image.

The Brown Pelican on the right was perched in a stiff wind at Aransas Pass, Aransas Co., Texas in April, 1999. The bird seemed to be better able to maintain his balance by extending the leading edge of its wings into the wind in this manner. This image was shot with a Canon EOS 3 and EF 300mm F/2.8 L lens on Fuji Sensia.

 

 

The immature and the adult here were resting on pilings at High Island, Galveston Co., Texas in April, 2001.This image was shot with a Canon EOS 3 and EF 500mm F/4 L IS lens on Fuji Velvia.
The next two images at right are of an immature Brown Pelican at Sanibel Island, Lee Co., Florida, in November, 2006.The shots were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 500mm F/4 L IS lens.
The next shot shows an adult Brown Pelican in flight and was taken at Aransas N.W.R., Aransas Co., Texas, in November, 2006, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 500mm F/4 L IS lens.
The adult Brown Pelican here was at Rollover Pass, Galveston Co., Texas, in February, 2007. This digital image was taken with the same equipment as the shot immediately preceding.
The next 4 images of Brown Pelican were taken in the Galapagos Islands in July, 2007, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6 L IS lens. The first 2 shots show adult birds and the next two shots show an immature.
The next 8 close-up images of Brown Pelicans were taken at Goose Island State Park, Aransas Co., Texas, in February, 2010, with a Canon EOS 50D and an EF 500mm F/4 L IS lens.
The Brown Pelicans in flight in the next four shots were at South Padre Island, Cameron Co., Texas, in December, 2010.
The Brown Pelican on the right was at La Jolla Cove, San Diego Co., California, in November, 2013.