Category Archives: Water Birds

Brown Pelican Chick Cruise 2025

Ted and I had the opportunity in June to take a guided boat adventure to see juvenile Pelicans. This year we were back at Bird Key – Stono Seabird Sanctuary which failed as a breeding colony last year due to predator activity.

A number of Brown Pelicans were sitting on nests at the top of a dune and unfortunately chicks were not visible, and may not have hatched yet.

Brown Pelicans Nesting
Brown Pelicans Nesting

We did get some nice in-flight sightings on the boat trip out.

Brown Pelican
Brown Pelican

And some Pelicans that weren’t on nest duty were standing around on the beach.

Brown Pelicans and Laughing Gull
Brown Pelicans and Laughing Gull

This beauty glided by us as we were making the return trip to land.

Brown Pelican In Flight
Brown Pelican In Flight

June 14, 2025

Bird Key – Stono, a barrier island that sits in the mouth of South Carolina’s Stono River, between Kiawah and Folly Islands.

All photos taken from a boat.

Pied-bill Grebe With Crayfish, 2

Once the Pied-bill Grebe was on his own with the crayfish he did a slow paddle…

Pied-bill Grebe With Crayfish
Pied-bill Grebe With Crayfish

… with his lunch just dangling.

Pied-bill Grebe With Crayfish
Pied-bill Grebe With Crayfish

Then he dunked it…

Pied-bill Grebe With Crayfish
Pied-bill Grebe With Crayfish

…maybe rinsing it

Pied-bill Grebe With Crayfish
Pied-bill Grebe With Crayfish

then it was down the hatch!

Pied-bill Grebe With Crayfish
Pied-bill Grebe With Crayfish

Orlando Wetlands, Christmas, FL
February 11, 2025

Pied-bill Grebe With Crayfish, 1

This Pied-bill Grebe seemed keenly aware of the two Coots when he surfaced with a large crayfish.

Pied-bill Grebe With Crayfish
Pied-bill Grebe With Crayfish

He kept circling away from them…

Pied-bill Grebe With Crayfish
Pied-bill Grebe With Crayfish

…and finally turned up the pedal power and swooshed away from them.

Pied-bill Grebe With Crayfish
Pied-bill Grebe With Crayfish

He bobbed back to the surface, continuing to swim while he hung on tight to his lunch.

Pied-bill Grebe With Crayfish
Pied-bill Grebe With Crayfish

Orlando Wetlands, Christmas, FL
February 11, 2025

American White Pelicans Duo Touching Down

Here’s another series of a pair of American White Pelicans  making a water landing.

American White Pelicans Landing
American White Pelicans Landing
American White Pelicans Landing
American White Pelicans Landing
American White Pelicans Landing
American White Pelicans Landing, Tricolored Heron getting out of the way
American White Pelicans Landing
American White Pelicans Landing
American White Pelicans Landing
American White Pelicans Landing, Gull vacating the area

Wingspan: 96.1-114.2 in (244-290 cm)

Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Florida
February 10 2025

American White Pelicans, Landing

American White Pelicans are massive birds with an amazingly graceful flight style.

American White Pelicans Landing
American White Pelicans Landing

There snazzy orange feet are pretty big, too.

American White Pelicans Landing
American White Pelicans Landing

Their landing is surprisingly quiet, gently hitting the water…

American White Pelicans Landing
American White Pelicans Landing

…and tucking in their wings.

American White Pelicans Landing
American White Pelicans Landing

Wingspan: 96.1-114.2 in (244-290 cm)

Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Florida
February 10 2025

Black Skimmer, Closer

Eventually the Black Skimmer duo came right towards me …

Black Skimmer
Black Skimmer

and amazingly the first one turned to my left…

Black Skimmer
Black Skimmer

then lifted up rather than skimming.

Black Skimmer
Black Skimmer

The second was was following behind, giving me a wonderful opportunity for a side view of the skimming action.

Black Skimmer
Black Skimmer

Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island, FL
February 9, 2025

Long-billed Dowitcher ID by Merlin Bird ID app

Black Skimmer and Dowitchers

Black Skimmers are fascinating to watch as they swoop low over the water, their lower beak in the water to scoop up prey. I spotted two on the far side of a big pond on the wildlife drive, too far for a decent photograph. Then they came closer and dropped in the middle of a small flock of shore birds, something I had never seen them do.

Black Skimmer and Dowitchers
Black Skimmer and Dowitchers

The Dowitchers weren’t disturbed by the Skimmers’ arrival, but were having their own flap-abouts.

Black Skimmer and Dowitchers
Black Skimmer and Dowitchers
Black Skimmer and Dowitchers
Black Skimmer and Dowitchers
Black Skimmer and Dowitchers
Black Skimmer and Dowitchers
Black Skimmer and Dowitchers
Black Skimmer and Dowitchers

Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island, FL
February 9, 2025

Long-billed Dowitcher ID by Merlin Bird ID app