Water birds today: pelicans, egrets, and a heron, all from reader Joe Dickinson, who notes:
A reader from Iowa sent pictures of the cooperative feeding behavior of white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) a week or two ago just as I was observing that behavior in a pond next to a freeway in Novato, CA. Interestingly, a number of snowy egrets (Egretta thula) often joined from the landward side as the pelicans drove prey toward shore (1st photo). They would converge from wherever they had been foraging when the pelicans approached the shore. Not exactly interspecific cooperation, I suppose, but certainly one species being aware of and taking advantage of the activities of another. The 2nd photo is a better shot of the several egrets. A great blue heron (Ardea herodias), shown catching the early morning light, was initially more aloof but also joined the hunt when the pelicans came his way. The rest of the photos are just some favorites from four mornings returning to that site.
And for the mammal lovers, a group of elk (Cervus canadensis) from Stephen Barnard in Idaho. He says he will cull one of the females for eating, as there are too many for the area.
Great profile closeups of the pelicans and heron! Waiting for Diana’s captions…
The only one that looks like there is a conversation going on is the second one with the two egrets and the third sort of turned as if to hear. Like there is gossip being whispered.
“Did you hear about Frank? Crustacean bit him.”
Ithought the single pelican with the open beak might have been calling out something…
I think there’s a mullet in his gullet. And see the pleased smile on his face afterwards. 🙂
Amazing photos btw. Tanx.
At least he doesn’t have a mullet on top.
American White Pelicans are majestic in flight, but they’re hated around here (not speaking for myself) because they’re voracious predators of trout. (This is a world-class trout fishery.) They’re large birds, so you can imagine how much fish a large flock must consume. Oddly, no one can recall them in the area until about three years ago.
By the way, the elk in the photo are only a small part of the herd on the ranch. There are at least forty. I hear the bulls bugling every morning. I hear them now.
They’re calling to you – “weird bipedal mammal, come out so we can have a look!”
I’m not a hunter, but I am an omnivore and must attest that Elk is one of the finest meat there is. If I give you my address, can you send me a steak? Just kidding. 😉
“A wonderful bird is the Pelican.
His beak can hold more than his belly can.
He can hold in his beak
Enough food for a week!
But I’ll be darned if I know how the hellican?” Dixon Lanier Merritt
Beat me to it!
b&
The blue heron looks especially nice. I haven’t seem any here for a while so I suspect they’ve migrated.
Lovely pictures. These clearly show why the hour after sunrise and before sunset are the ‘golden hour’ for photography.
Thanks for the photos. The reflective rippling water around the white pelicans is really spectacular.