Late 2019 was the first time I had seen a Pelican at Centenary Lakes. I am sure they are present often but that was the first time I had personally seen one there.

I sat and watched this pelican for a couple of hours. At first it was very cautious but luckily I was the only person there and after a while it took no notice of me.

On this day it was extremely hot and the bird put on quite a show as it washed and cooled itself in what was left of the Lake water.

Now quite comfortable to swim right in front of me the bird started to search in the water for something. It would be quite still and then paddle off occasionally poking it’s head in the water.

On this day I never saw the Pelican come up with anything in it’s beak. He tried and tried but always came up empty beaked.

It was lovely to just sit and watch the Pelican make short flights from one section of the Lake to another. I was very fortunate to have the Lake to myself for most of that day.

It usually takes me quite some time to get close to the birds as I move slowly and quietly and/or they become comfortable with me.

Sometimes however people see me near the birds and assume that they are not scared easily. That was the case this day when a man walked briskly up behind me to look at the Pelican….. and it took to flight.

Fast forward to February 2020 - the Pelican has water and food

On the first day of February I took a short break from work and headed to the Lakes. The water level was now much higher after the recent rain and everything was green. There was also a Pelican.

This Pelican appeared to be swimming directly over to me to say hello. It was in the next few seconds that I would see that he was coming to visit something else.

Unlike the Pelican I saw in late 2019, this one had certainly found something to eat in the water. I could not believe that there were fish that big in the Lakes. Amazing!