Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

This morning, I have added 10 images taken at Carburn Park, on 2 July 2019. As keeps happening, I have fallen way behind with editing and posting my photos. This was an evening walk with a group of friends. Though I rarely go on any evening walks, I knew this one would finally get me over to Carburn Park. It's always a delight to see a gathering of American White Pelicans on the Bow River. They like to rest on the gravel bars and either sleep or preen. Such exotic looking birds and they almost look like they don't belong here. Two other things I was happy to see were a scattering of beautiful, pink Sainfoin flowers. This is the only location where I have seen them. The other thrill was when a huge American Beaver swam past us when we were walking along the trail at the edge of the river. We were able to see just how huge it really was when it climbed up on to the bank not many feet away from us, and began eating the tall grass.

This morning, I have added 10 images taken at Carburn Park, on 2 July 2019. As keeps happening, I have fallen way behind with editing and posting my photos. This was an evening walk with a group of friends. Though I rarely go on any evening walks, I knew this one would finally get me over to Carburn Park. It's always a delight to see a gathering of American White Pelicans on the Bow River. They like to rest on the gravel bars and either sleep or preen. Such exotic looking birds and they almost look like they don't belong here. Two other things I was happy to see were a scattering of beautiful, pink Sainfoin flowers. This is the only location where I have seen them. The other thrill was when a huge American Beaver swam past us when we were walking along the trail at the edge of the river. We were able to see just how huge it really was when it climbed up on to the bank not many feet away from us, and began eating the tall grass.

This morning, I am posting three more photos taken with the Nikon B700. Yesterday, 24 April 2018, I went for a morning walk in Carburn Park with a group of friends, hoping to see a few things to photograph. Late last night, I posted on Facebook about the huge issue I am having with this replacement camera, with images suddenly jumping upward, downward and to the side when I press the shutter button. I received a very helpful comment form someone, suggesting I try using the zoom lever on the side of the camera, instead of the zoom on the top. I had never used the side zoom on any camera that I have owned. As it was getting on for midnight, I only tried a series of shots indoors, but it seemed to work much better. Today, I will again have to do some more testing. It was great to see a group of American White Pelicans near the edge of the river. I don't know if this was the same group I saw recently, just at a different location. Somehow, even after years of seeing these spectacular birds in the city, I still find it strange. They just look so exotic. Not the best light to photograph them, but it was good to see that the whites were not blown out and the white feathers had plenty of detail. Our crazy, crazy weather! Yesterday, I believe the temperature got up to about 20C. Of course, I wouldn't dream of saying that I was too warm before the end of the walk, lol. Not after the dreadful winter we have just survived. Just checked the forecast and I see it says 21C, 23C and 26C for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I still have a large snowdrift in my backyard!

I went for a short afternoon walk by the Bow River on 18 April 2018, as I needed to check the Nikon B700 which I bought two weeks ago. I wanted to check how often the camera makes a loud "clunk" and pushes a photo that is in my viewfinder upwards, downwards or off to one side or the other, when I press the shutter button to take the photo. My guess would be that this happened with at least half the photos I tried to take, resulting in useless images. In the end, I simply gave up and went home. The reason I bought this camera was that I will need, very shortly, a camera with a powerful optical zoom (my old FZ200 only has 24x optical, whereas the B700 has 60x). I carefully avoided buying the Nikon P900 because I had seen so many very blurry, blown-out photos taken by other people, which totally turned me off. The Nikon P900 has 83 (?) times optical, which is far too much for a point-and-shoot. My Panasonic FZ1000 (with only 16x optical) is still somewhere "out there", after being sent off for repair on 21 December 2017, returned to me with exactly the same Playback problem, sent off again and they needed a spare part that was going to take at least 4 weeks to get, meaning I would not get the camera back in time for a trip. I told them to have it returned to me, unfixed, as I needed it sooner than that. This was told to them two weeks ago and I still have no camera. Am I fed up of cameras? Yes, I am!!!! That is two cameras I have bought that were faulty right from the start. These birds are so spectacular and it is always such a treat when they return to the city each spring. This group was on a band of snow in the middle of the Bow River on 18 April 2018. Though I composed this image with a lot more water showing at the bottom edge, it still worked OK. Actually, I think I like the colour, light and detail better than in a similar shot taken with my old FZ200. Love those windblown tufts of head feathers. "The American white pelican rivals the trumpeter swan, with a similar overall length, as the longest bird native to North America. Both very large and plump, it has an overall length of about 50–70 in (130–180 cm), courtesy of the huge beak which measures 11.3–15.2 in (290–390 mm) in males and 10.3–14.2 in (260–360 mm) in females. It has a wingspan of about 95–120 in (240–300 cm). The species also has the second largest average wingspan of any North American bird, after the California condor. This large wingspan allows the bird to easily use soaring flight for migration. The bill is huge and flat on the top, with a large throat sac below, and, in the breeding season, is vivid orange in color as are the iris, the bare skin around the eye, and the feet. In the breeding season, there is a laterally flattened "horn" on the upper bill, located about one-third the bill's length behind the tip. This is the only one of the eight species of pelican to have a bill "horn". The horn is shed after the birds have mated and laid their eggs. Outside the breeding season the bare parts become duller in color, with the naked facial skin yellow and the bill, pouch, and feet an orangy-flesh color. Apart from the difference in size, males and females look exactly alike. Immature birds have light grey plumage with darker brownish nape and remiges. Their bare parts are dull grey. Chicks are naked at first, then grow white down feathers all over, before moulting to the immature plumage." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_white_pelican

This photo was taken using my old FZ200, Focal Length (35mm format) - 1200 mm. Posting my third photo today, taken with a Nikon B700 at Focal Length (35mm format) - 1440 mm., just for comparison. I went for a short walk by the Bow River yesterday afternoon, as I needed to check the Nikon B700 which I bought two weeks ago. I wanted to check how often the camera makes a loud "clunk" and pushes a photo that is in my viewfinder upwards, downwards or off to one side or the other, when I press the shutter button to take the photo. My guess would be that this happened with at least half the photos I tried to take, resulting in useless images. In the end, I simply gave up and went home. The reason I bought the Nikon camera was that I will very shortly need a camera with a powerful optical zoom (my old FZ200 only has 24x optical, whereas the B700 has 60x). I carefully avoided buying the Nikon P900 because I had seen so many very blurry, blown-out photos taken by other people, which totally turned me off. The Nikon P900 has 83 (?) times optical, which is far too much for a point-and-shoot. My Panasonic FZ1000 (with only 16x optical) is still somewhere "out there", after being sent off for repair on 21 December 2017, returned to me with exactly the same Playback problem, sent off again and they needed a spare part that was going to take at least 4 weeks to get, meaning I would not get the camera back in time for a trip. I told them to have it returned to me, unfixed, as I needed it sooner than that. This was told to them two weeks ago and I still have no camera. Am I fed up of cameras? Yes, I am!!!! That is two cameras I have bought that were faulty right from the start. Back to the store again today! These birds are so spectacular and it is always such a treat when they return to the city each spring. This group was on a band of snow in the middle of the Bow River yesterday. "The American white pelican rivals the trumpeter swan, with a similar overall length, as the longest bird native to North America. Both very large and plump, it has an overall length of about 50–70 in (130–180 cm), courtesy of the huge beak which measures 11.3–15.2 in (290–390 mm) in males and 10.3–14.2 in (260–360 mm) in females. It has a wingspan of about 95–120 in (240–300 cm). The species also has the second largest average wingspan of any North American bird, after the California condor. This large wingspan allows the bird to easily use soaring flight for migration. The bill is huge and flat on the top, with a large throat sac below, and, in the breeding season, is vivid orange in color as are the iris, the bare skin around the eye, and the feet. In the breeding season, there is a laterally flattened "horn" on the upper bill, located about one-third the bill's length behind the tip. This is the only one of the eight species of pelican to have a bill "horn". The horn is shed after the birds have mated and laid their eggs. Outside the breeding season the bare parts become duller in color, with the naked facial skin yellow and the bill, pouch, and feet an orangy-flesh color. Apart from the difference in size, males and females look exactly alike. Immature birds have light grey plumage with darker brownish nape and remiges. Their bare parts are dull grey. Chicks are naked at first, then grow white down feathers all over, before moulting to the immature plumage." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_white_pelican

Taken at Focal Length (35mm format) - 1440 mm. I went for a short walk by the Bow River yesterday afternoon, as I needed to check the Nikon B700 which I bought two weeks ago. I wanted to check how often the camera makes a loud "clunk" and pushes a photo that is in my viewfinder upwards, downwards or off to one side or the other, when I press the shutter button to take the photo. My guess would be that this happened with at least half the photos I tried to take, resulting in useless images. In the end, I simply gave up and went home. The reason I bought this camera was that I will need, very shortly, a camera with a powerful optical zoom (my old FZ200 only has 24x optical, whereas the B700 has 60x). I carefully avoided buying the Nikon P900 because I had seen so many very blurry, blown-out photos taken by other people, which totally turned me off. The Nikon P900 has 83 (?) times optical, which is far too much for a point-and-shoot. My Panasonic FZ1000 (with only 16x optical) is still somewhere "out there", after being sent off for repair on 21 December 2017, returned to me with exactly the same Playback problem, sent off again and they needed a spare part that was going to take at least 4 weeks to get, meaning I would not get the camera back in time for a trip. I told them to have it returned to me, unfixed, as I needed it sooner than that. This was told to them two weeks ago and I still have no camera. Am I fed up of cameras? Yes, I am!!!! That is two cameras I have bought that were faulty right from the start. Back to the store again today! These birds are so spectacular and it is always such a treat when they return to the city each spring. This group was on a band of snow in the middle of the Bow River yesterday. "The American white pelican rivals the trumpeter swan, with a similar overall length, as the longest bird native to North America. Both very large and plump, it has an overall length of about 50–70 in (130–180 cm), courtesy of the huge beak which measures 11.3–15.2 in (290–390 mm) in males and 10.3–14.2 in (260–360 mm) in females. It has a wingspan of about 95–120 in (240–300 cm). The species also has the second largest average wingspan of any North American bird, after the California condor. This large wingspan allows the bird to easily use soaring flight for migration. The bill is huge and flat on the top, with a large throat sac below, and, in the breeding season, is vivid orange in color as are the iris, the bare skin around the eye, and the feet. In the breeding season, there is a laterally flattened "horn" on the upper bill, located about one-third the bill's length behind the tip. This is the only one of the eight species of pelican to have a bill "horn". The horn is shed after the birds have mated and laid their eggs. Outside the breeding season the bare parts become duller in color, with the naked facial skin yellow and the bill, pouch, and feet an orangy-flesh color. Apart from the difference in size, males and females look exactly alike. Immature birds have light grey plumage with darker brownish nape and remiges. Their bare parts are dull grey. Chicks are naked at first, then grow white down feathers all over, before moulting to the immature plumage." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_white_pelican

Took this photo at Mallard Point, Fish Creek Park, on 22 September 2015, during a three hour birding walk. When we reached the bridge over the river, we saw this group of American White Pelicans feeding. I had never seen them feeding in this way, but apparently they perform a synchronized effort to find fish. In this photo, tails and wings are all up and the heads are in the water. A few seconds later, every bird was upright and mostly turned in the same direction. Fascinating to watch. Unfortunately, they were very distant, so this is a fully zoomed and cropped image.

Yesterday, 2 September 2015, I made myself go on a birding walk with friends at Carburn Park. I tend to miss most of the birding and botany walks and I find it even harder to push myself out the front door when there are far fewer things to see and photograph as we head into fall. Glad I went yesterday, though, as I would have missed seeing this group of beautiful American White Pelicans, gathered on a gravel bar in the middle of the Bow River. I would also have missed a distant Merlin, perched near the top of a tall snag, and Ospreys flying high over the river - one was carrying a fish in its talons. A few Double-crested Cormorants were flying along the river or standing on a large tree trunk (?) in the river. Our temperature got down to 5C last night and it's only 12C just after 10:30 this morning. Rain is in the forecast for the next few days.

I have seen plenty of these beautiful, huge American White Pelicans in the wild, but this one was photographed at the Calgary Zoo this afternoon. I think they have beautiful eyes : ). This is the male and he and two females share a small pond. Interestingness#305 explore2008October19.

Though I have seen many American White Pelicans in the wild, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to photograph this one at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre the other day. We were lucky enough to spend the whole day there, botanizing and birding their forest and meadows. It is a great Centre, for injured and orphaned wildlife, rehabilitating and releasing whenever possible.

I've seen plenty of American White Pelicans in the wild, but these two happen to be at the Zoo, hanging out in their lovely outdoor "creek". Left the house at 6:45 this morning and got home an hour ago, at 10:00 p.m. (which including stopping on the way home to have supper). We were lucky enough to get the chance to go on a trip southeast of Calgary, to see the Majorville Medicine Wheel! The trip also was to search for birds on the way there and back. Our first-class leader today was Greg Wagner, who was able to show us all sorts of birds (some of them "firsts" for me and others). I am SO tired, I can barely type a word that makes sense, but will just quickly mention a Long-billed Curlew, Sprague's Pipit, Horned Lark, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Ferruginous Hawk, Loggerhead Shrike, Vesper Sparrows, etc. Everything was far, far away and no good for photos, unfortunately. Many thanks for driving us all day, John - so much appreciated! www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/_toolbox/cnt_head.gif

About eight of these enormous American White Pelicans circled way, way overhead while we were botanizing the Western Sky Land Trust's Wheatland #1, formerly Jack Nodwell’s Property, 59 acres of land near Carseland, Alberta, yesterday afternoon. This area is about half an hour's drive south east of the city. It's so amazing to see Pelicans flying on a bright, sunny day. One moment they are dazzling white in the sun; next moment, when they turn, they almost vanish from sight. A zoomed and cropped image, LOL.

Oops, I should have added my description immediately before anyone looked and commented, to say that this was not taken in the wild! Although I see American White Pelicans in the wild in and around Calgary, this particular Pelican is one of three who live at the Calgary Zoo (this male and two females). They swim on a small pond and share the outdoor, wooded area with Deer, ducks and Wild Turkeys. Really a lovely little area for them.

There are three American White Pelicans at the Calgary Zoo, this male and two females. They swim on a small pond and share the outdoor, wooded area with Deer, ducks and Wild Turkeys. Really a lovely little area for them. I do see Pelicans in the wild, but often at a great distance, except for down near the Bow River Weir in the city.

To be honest, I really don't know what my little point-and-shoot is capable of when it comes to taking in-flight shots. All I know is that I don't usually bother to even try, as photos really don't turn out. However, I was just lucky with this shot of a gorgeous American White Pelican that just happened to fly overhead. I was sitting watching a Harris's Hawk do a flight training demonstration at the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre just over a week ago and caught sight of this guy.

One of the Pelicans at the Calgary Zoo. They never seem to be still when I'm there, feeding constantly on the little stream that runs through their enclosure. This is the male (you can see the remnants of the breeding "bump" on his upper bill) and there are two females with him. We do see Pelicans in the wild, too, but I believe there have been fewer of them this summer.

Or maybe I should say "One and a half..." Rather a weird photo but there was just something about the reflections that I liked. The top one is a male and the lower bird is female. Taken this afternoon at the Calgary Zoo in 32C weather, which is too hot for my liking. Having lived for six years in one of the hottest places on the planet - Muscat, Oman - you'd think I could deal with 32C, LOL. We do see these Pelicans in the wild here, too.

Had a fun time watching three American White Pelicans on a stream at the Calgary Zoo yesterday. They spent the whole time feeding, except for a few moments of frenzied splashing. I don't know if this was part of a mating display.