Brown Pelicans in La Jolla, November into December

I photographed in La Jolla many mornings in late November and early December. One of my projects involves California sea lions but, while there have been many on the point, they were not exhibiting the behavior I was looking for, so after giving up on the sea lions I went looking at harbor seals and/or sea birds instead. (I don’t think the sea lion bodysurfing behavior will really kick in until January or February but I’m committed to looking for it as many days as possible this winter when the weather is favoriable.)  Our run of ideal weather spanned just about every morning for 3 weeks. I can tell how much sun we got each day by looking at the power output graph from my solar panels, and only on two days did it dip noticeably.  We had high tides and on some days king tides, along with large swells and offshore winds, a combination which is perfect for photographing birds in flight around La Jolla Cove.  There are a growing number of pelicans in full breeding plumage now, and many many more that look good now and will have the brown hind neck soon. Here are some of my favorites shot over nine different days in late November and early December, 2023.  Cheers, and thanks for looking!

Brown Pelican Performs a Head Throw Lit By Sun on Pedestal Rock, dark ocean from storm clouds on horizon, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California

Brown Pelican Performs a Head Throw Lit By Sun on Pedestal Rock, dark ocean from storm clouds on horizon.
Image ID: 39820
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California

Brandt's Cormorant Flying in La Jolla, lit by early morning sun, non-breeding plumage, Phalacrocorax penicillatus

Brandt's Cormorant Flying in La Jolla, lit by early morning sun, non-breeding plumage.
Image ID: 39882
Species: Brandt's Cormorant, Phalacrocorax penicillatus

Perfect Brown Pelican Head Throw in Winter Breeding Plumage, pelican leans its head way back to stretch its throat pounch and neck, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis

Perfect Brown Pelican Head Throw in Winter Breeding Plumage, pelican leans its head way back to stretch its throat pounch and neck.
Image ID: 39884
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis

Subadult Brown Pelican Flying Over Ocean in Morning Sun, wings spread wide, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California

Subadult Brown Pelican Flying Over Ocean in Morning Sun, wings spread wide.
Image ID: 39823
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California

Endangered Brown Pelican Flying over the Pacific Ocean, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California

Endangered Brown Pelican Flying over the Pacific Ocean.
Image ID: 39836
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California

Endangered California Brown Pelican With Wings Spread Flying over the Pacific Ocean, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla

Endangered California Brown Pelican With Wings Spread Flying over the Pacific Ocean.
Image ID: 39837
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California

California Brown Pelican Performing Yoga Virabhadrasana Warrior 3 pose, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla

California Brown Pelican Performing Yoga Virabhadrasana Warrior 3 pose.
Image ID: 39839
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California

Juvenile Western Gull with Wings Raised as it lands on rocky cliffs, La Jolla, California

Juvenile Western Gull with Wings Raised as it lands on rocky cliffs.
Image ID: 39856
Location: La Jolla, California

Pelican Portrait in Flight Adult Winter Plumage, blue ocean in the distance, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis

Pelican Portrait in Flight Adult Winter Plumage, blue ocean in the distance.
Image ID: 39888
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis

California Brown Pelican with Wings Outstretched Ready to Land on Ocean Cliffs in La Jolla, early morning light, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis

California Brown Pelican with Wings Outstretched Ready to Land on Ocean Cliffs in La Jolla, early morning light.
Image ID: 39889
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis

California Brown Pelican with Wings Outstretched Ready to Land on Ocean Cliffs in La Jolla, early morning light, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis

California Brown Pelican with Wings Outstretched Ready to Land on Ocean Cliffs in La Jolla, early morning light.
Image ID: 39895
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis

Brown Pelican Performs Virabhadrasana Warrior 3 Pose, Pelican Yoga, winter adult non-breeding plumage, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California

Brown Pelican Performs Virabhadrasana Warrior 3 Pose, Pelican Yoga, winter adult non-breeding plumage.
Image ID: 39824
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California

Ring-Billed Gull First Winter Plumage in Flight, La Jolla, California

Ring-Billed Gull First Winter Plumage in Flight.
Image ID: 39858
Location: La Jolla, California

California brown pelican winter breeding plumage portrait, this adult is gently clapping its jaws, showing brown hind neck with yellow head, red and olive throat pouch, white with yellow chevron on the breast, La Jolla

California brown pelican winter breeding plumage portrait, this adult is gently clapping its jaws, showing brown hind neck with yellow head, red and olive throat pouch, white with yellow chevron on the breast.
Image ID: 39867
Location: La Jolla, California

Brown Pelican Transitioning to Winter Breeding Plumage, note the hind neck feathers (brown) are just filling in, the bright yellow head and red throat, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis

Brown Pelican Transitioning to Winter Breeding Plumage, note the hind neck feathers (brown) are just filling in, the bright yellow head and red throat.
Image ID: 39892
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis

Brown pelican glottis exposure. This pelican is inverting its throat and stretching it over its neck and chest in an effort to stretch and rearrange tissues of the mouth and throat, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis

Brown pelican glottis exposure. This pelican is inverting its throat and stretching it over its neck and chest in an effort to stretch and rearrange tissues of the mouth and throat.
Image ID: 39897
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis

Brown Pelican Transitioning to Winter Breeding Plumage, note the hind neck feathers (brown) are just filling in, the bright yellow head and red throat, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis

Brown Pelican Transitioning to Winter Breeding Plumage, note the hind neck feathers (brown) are just filling in, the bright yellow head and red throat.
Image ID: 39899
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis

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About Phil Colla

I am a natural history photographer. I enjoy making compelling images in the ocean, on land, and in the air. I have maintained the Natural History Photography blog since 2005 and my searchable Natural History Photography Library since 1997. Here are some tear sheets and behind the scenes views. Thanks for looking!

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