Here’s another series of a pair of American White Pelicans making a water landing.
Wingspan: 96.1-114.2 in (244-290 cm)
Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Florida
February 10 2025
American White Pelicans Duo Touching Down
Tag Archives: Bird in Flight
American White Pelicans, Landing
American White Pelicans are massive birds with an amazingly graceful flight style.
There snazzy orange feet are pretty big, too.
Their landing is surprisingly quiet, gently hitting the water…
…and tucking in their wings.
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 …
and amazingly the first one turned to my left…
then lifted up rather than skimming.
The second was was following behind, giving me a wonderful opportunity for a side view of the skimming action.
Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island, FL
February 9, 2025
Long-billed Dowitcher ID by Merlin Bird ID app
Green Heron Flying
While I was busy watching the Roseate Spoonbills a Green Heron charged out of the grass at the edge of the pond.
He landed on a branch of the Spoonie Tree.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
July 26, 2024
Dirty White Ibis Fly-by
White Ibis are usually pristine, spending significant time on their preening rituals. This one had some kind of a mud bath.
There were several White Ibis with active nests around the rookery and feeding the chicks may have taken precedence over cleanliness.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
August 2, 2024
Wood Stork Bringing Nest Material
Watching a Wood Stork gather nest materials is a treat, especially when they fly right over you! I couldn’t see into the vegetation where these sticks were being delivered so don’t know if these are for repairs or new nests.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
June 12, 2024
Black-crowned Night-heron Gathering Nest Material
Back and forth, Black-crowned Night-herons were busy putting their nests together at the Cypress Wetlands rookery.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
April 5, 2024
Snowy Egret
There hasn’t been much action in Perry Pond with the water high, but a few Snowy Egrets were staking a claim.
This one, closer to shore, was hunting by stirring the water with his feet.
Slowly moving forward, hoping some small fish or crustacean would show itself.
He didn’t have much luck and decided to move on.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 23, 2024
Black-crowned Night-herons in Gnarly Tree
Eight or ten Black-crowned Night-herons, maybe more, were swapping places in the trees that hang over the pond at Magnolia Cemetery.
The bigger view, including an airplane that was headed to Charleston International.
Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC
January 31, 2024
Red-shouldered Hawk on Palm
This was a day for raptors, including this Red-shouldered Hawk perched on a weather-beaten palm tree.
He sat still when I got out of the car…
But took off when another vehicle passed. He did not fly in the direction I was ready for, coming much closer than I anticipated. The composition of this image is not at all pleasing but I loved the color pattern on his outstretched wing.
Bio Lab Road, Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Florida
December 31, 2023