Australian Pelican
Centenary Lakes, December 2019.
I love how majestic these birds are in flight. I suppose most of us are used to them paddling on the water searching for food but I really think they are beautiful in flight.
Centenary Lakes, February 2020.
At Centenary Lakes late afternoon you can get very beautiful reflections on the water. One of my favourite places to sit and watch Pelicans.
Centenary Lakes, February 2020.
If you sit for long and often enough you get to see some pretty amazing behaviour from these big birds. I think that is three fish in his mouth.
Tablelands Swamp, July 2020.
The bird above flew straight over me to check me out. The Pelicans at Centenary Lakes are much more relaxed around humans. The ones up the Tablelands Swamps take to flight pretty quickly when they see you approaching.
The landings can be very entertaining as well. They are full of odd bahaviour that I like to watch as you will see in the next photos.
Cairns Esplanade, July 2019. Three stages of eyes open/shut.
Another popular place to watch Pelicans where I live is the Esplanade. You do not get as close as you can at the Lakes but they are present more regularly.
Some more of that odd behaviour above that keeps me watching for hours or until the bird has had enough of me and flies away like in the next photo.
Centenary Lakes, December 2019.