While February does bring a pronounced fading in the colorful breeding plumage of the California brown pelican, it also brings a near-absence of other photographers and as a partial result, a lot of birds on the cliffs. There are usually at least a few that are still exhibiting beautiful colors. Here are a few images that I thought were interesting and worth keeping from the last few weeks of photographing them. I have now turned my attention to sea lions, seals, cormorants and grebes. Cheers and thanks for looking!
California brown pelican in flight, spreading wings wide to slow in anticipation of landing on seacliffs.
Image ID: 37804
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA
California brown pelican in flight, spreading wings wide to slow in anticipation of landing on seacliffs.
Image ID: 37811
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA
California brown pelican in flight, spreading wings wide to slow in anticipation of landing on seacliffs.
Image ID: 37812
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA
A California brown pelican preening, rubbing the back of its head and neck on the uropygial gland (preen gland) near the base of its tail. Preen oil from the uropygial gland is spread by the pelican's beak and back of its head to all other feathers on the pelican, helping to keep them water resistant and dry.
Image ID: 37658
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA
A brown pelican preening, reaching with its beak to the uropygial gland (preen gland) near the base of its tail. Preen oil from the uropygial gland is spread by the pelican's beak and back of its head to all other feathers on the pelican, helping to keep them water resistant and dry.
Image ID: 37725
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA
California Brown pelican performing a head throw, with breeding plumage including distinctive yellow and white head feathers, red gular throat pouch, brown hind neck and greyish body.
Image ID: 37729
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA
Brown pelican in flight, spreading wings wide to slow in anticipation of landing on seacliffs.
Image ID: 37737
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA
Portrait of California brown pelican, with the characteristic winter mating plumage shown: red throat, yellow head and dark brown hindneck.
Image ID: 37816
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA
Brown pelican staring down the photographer. Portrait of California brown pelican, with the characteristic winter mating plumage shown: red throat, yellow head and dark brown hindneck.
Image ID: 37819
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA
California Brown pelican in flight, captured beautifully as it lands on sea cliffs in La Jolla, California.
Image ID: 37581
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Portrait of California brown pelican, with the characteristic winter mating plumage except this one has a yellow throat rather than red.
Image ID: 37714
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA
California Brown pelican performing a head throw, juvenile.
Image ID: 37736
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA
California brown pelican feather detail.
Image ID: 37747
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA
California brown pelican face detail, showing beak, eye, yellow head and brown neck, gray body.
Image ID: 37746
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA
California Brown pelican in flight, soaring along sea cliffs above the ocean in La Jolla, California.
Image ID: 37801
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA
