Monday, January 25, 2010

My World Tuesday #67: Dawn Patrol


"Breakfast on the Fly"
North Topsail Beach, NC - January 2010 (Click to embiggen)

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Pelicans are amazing to watch. Especially when it's feeding time. Somehow, even in this light, they can spot fish that are momentarily trapped in the trough between two waves and scoop them out of the water on the fly. The birds will disappear behind the leading wave for a second or two, appearing for all the world like they've dived below the surface, then come out the other end of the trough still in full stride. As new Year's Day 2010 dawned over Topsail Island, I watched them perform this aerobatic maneuver usually in groups of two or three (though whether that's significant or not I don't know). Not being much of a bird expert I can't tell you much more than this. I can only marvel at the innate skill and coordination it must take. Not to mention the eyesight!
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12 comments:

Carver said...

These are wonderful shots. I like the lighting as well as the feeding pelicans. To me one of the tragedies of my state is how the place where the sound meets the ocean used to have enormous breeding grounds for the island birds.

I was very upset when it was approved to extend development with a road and all the houses and condos at what used to be for the birds, literally. Only a tiny fraction of the breeding ground was left at the point.

Then when hurricanes came through sand was dumped on the road and some of the houses ended up in the ocean. Very disheartening. As a matter of fact after development was allowed on what used to be the bird breeding grounds, I stopped going to topsail as much.

Sylvia K said...

Beautiful capture! And what amazing birds! Wonderful colors! Would love to watch them, too! Hope your week is off to a good start!

Sylvia

Unknown said...

So did you stay up all night to see the New Year in? These are lovely! They are amazing birds!

carmilevy said...

Happy sigh. It would be easy to say this is brilliant composition and leave it at that. It is, of course, but understanding the technical challenge of getting it in the first place (flying birds, fast-moving waves, low light, etc.) makes it an even more notable achievement.

Wasn't "Dawn Patrol" the name of a band or an album? No, wait, "Snow Patrol" is one of my fave bands. My bad :)

Either way, I've got dibs on some beachy shooting with you someday,

Anonymous said...

What a perfect way to start the new year... the birds are so graceful and the way you captured the water-in-motion is lovely.

Jane Hards Photography said...

That's not an easy shot at all with that lowlight. Love the mood you got here, mysterious.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Mojo: Cool photo in the low light.

SandyCarlson said...

True at first light. So beautiful and magical. How those birds read that water and do what they do exactly as they do....I don't know. I'd love to see what they see as they're doing it. These birds live in a poem they write every day. Thanks for reading it for us.

Anonymous said...

As has been said, getting any picture at all in the early gray light is an accomplishment. This one is a wonderful reminder of the times I've stood on the beach and watched the pelicans, just as you describe.

Amanda Moore said...

I love watching pelicans dive, I have many crappy shots to prove it! LOL I take great shots of the actually but not diving for some reason. This is really neat Mojo, well I just keep trying!

magiceye said...

amazing birds and superb photography!!

Anonymous said...

Love the moody blue of the photo!