A dozen White Pelicans were paddling back and forth across the back of this pond with a Great Blue Heron watching over them.

All of a sudden it was time to move on.

These huge birds make very little disruption as they take off. They can weigh up to 20 pounds (9 KG) and leave barely a ripple in the water..

Their effortless looking flight continued as they banked, turning towards another pond further into the old rice impoundment.