Fishing, no strings attached

This Brown Pelican (Pelicanus occidentalis carolinensis) was sitting in a canal to the west of Bridge City the other day as I drove by. When I stopped to shoot the pix, it seemed he went into action. He was very intent on what was going on below him. Suddenly he sprang from the water, flew about 100 feet and dropped down making a quick splash, ducking his bill and head below the water.

He came up with the bill closed and lifted his head up. Whatever it was he caught, you could tell, by the way it swelled his pouch and the effort he made to swallow it, that it was very large.

He repeated that trick once more, before spotting me and flying off to find a new fishing hole.

-steve buser

Brown Pelican, Pelicanus occidentalis carolinensis, Bridge City, Texas