Peaky Pelican

On our way back home from San Francisco in December of 2019, Cory and I stopped at several spots along California Route 1 in search of pelicans. I don't think I had ever seen a pelican before, or at least not close enough for pictures.

Near San Francisco, within sight of the Golden Gate Bridge we found a hiking trail that led down to several bluffs along the shore, near Marshall's Beach. On the rocks we found several pelicans which appeared to be resting. A couple of them moved to stretch there wings occasionally, but generally they sat basking in the sunlight. No amount of my coaxing could persuade them to move or do something interesting. We decided that we had been there long enough, and started to make our way back toward our car. Roughly, 200 meters up the trail, we looked back at the rock with pelicans and sure enough they were flying around and swooping down on the water. Cory says he distinctly remembers me exclaiming, "well of course you move now, fish eaten sons of b******," but I won't admit that.

We found this larger Pelican rookery off shore near Golden Gate Park. Pelicans were swooping in from all directions. Some came back to feed their offspring and others appeared to just use this atoll as a resting point. While there was more activity here most of the pelicans were beyond photographic range for a close up. It was still cool to watch groups of pelicans fly low near the surface of the water as they made their way to and from this rock.

It wasn't until we got to Monterey, California, the following day, when we were able to get fairly close up to Pelicans. There are a lot of beautiful places in the enormous state of California, however there are a lot of brown, sun burnt, places as well. Monterey, however, for those who have not been there is simply gorgeous. There are rocky beaches that lead out to kelp laden seas teeming with wildlife including Sea Otters and Pelicans. Just to the south of Monterey is the famed Pebble Beach golf course and its famed Cypress Tree, and a little further South is Big Sur. To the east are the rolling foothills of the Southern Coastal Range Mountains.

The Pelicans in Monterey were fairly accessible. There were several spots along the Shore where it seemed you could almost go up and touch them. Pelicans would fly overhead, out to see and along piers where fishing trollers and whale watching boats would launch. There were several occasions when the Pelicans seemed to be stairing at us, much like the photo in the beginning of this blog. Other times it was like we weren't there and they went about their own business.

Unfortunately, I have yet to capture an image of a pelican swooping down or scooping up fish out of the sea, but I did have fun photographing these unique birds along some of the most beautiful coastline I have ever seen. We will have to make a trip back to Monterey to get better pictures of these brown pelicans, maybe enjoy a whale watching tour, in search of blue whales, and maybe a round of golf at Pebble Beach. Ok, well Cory would play golf, while I have fun driving the little cart.

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