Tag Archives: fly

Two Pelicans in Flight, Point Lobos

Two Pelicans in Flight, Point Lobos

Two Pelicans in Flight, Point Lobos. Point Lobos State Reserve, California. January 25, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Two pelicans in flight against the winter clouds at Point Lobos State Reserve, California.

Yes, another shot of pelicans in flight – and it won’t be the last! I can’t get enough of these wonderful birds. This pair was among those I earlier described as coasting slowly along right next to a bluff just north of Bird Island at Point Lobos.

This photograph is not in the public domain. It may not be used on websites, blogs, or in any other media without explicit advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

keywords: big sur, california, carmel, monterey, morning, pacific, ocean, point lobos, travel, usa, winter, peninsula, state, reserve, park, bird, in, flight, wing, beak, shorebird, pelican, fly, nature, wildlife, sea, formation, clouds, sky, big sur, stock

Gull in Flight, Blue Sky

Gull in Flight, Blue Sky

Gull in Flight, Blue Sky. Point Lobos State Reserve, California. January 25, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Gull in flight against blue sky, Point Lobos State Reserve, California.

A short trip to Point Lobos today turned into mostly a bird photography expedition. Landscape prospects were challenging, to say the least – the tide was very high, the surf was only moderate, but strong winds were whipping up a lot of choppy water. When I arrived I still planned to shoot landscapes, but I got the hint when a huge flock of pelicans flew by just a few feet from the parking lot as I was unloading – so I put the long lens on the camera and went “hunting” for birds in flight.

I’ve noticed a funny thing about photographing birds, at least at Point Lobos. I can drag the tripod out on a nice promontory and wait… and wait… and wait. But as soon as I decide to give up and try something else the world’s biggest and most spectacular flock of pelicans will cruise 20 feet over my head! Today I had put my gear in the car three times, only to have to drag it out again as the birds flew by mere feet away from the coastal bluff.

This photograph is not in the public domain. It may not be used on websites, blogs, or in any other media without explicit advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

keywords: bird, in, flight, wing, gull, sea, shore, shoreline, sky, blue, cloud, azure, backlit, edge, beak, fly, avian, tail, point lobos, state, reserve, california, monterey, peninsula, carmel, highway one, coast, pacific, ocean, winter, stock, wildlife, nature

Wave, Surf, and Rocks

Wave, Surf, and Rocks

Wave, Surf, and Rocks. Point Lobos State Reserve, California. November 30, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Winter surf crashes against the coastal rocks at Point Lobos with Carmel Highlands beyond.

This photograph was made from a bluff roughly between Weston Beach and Punta de los Lobos Marinos as the huge winter surf crashed on the rocky outcroppings along the Point Lobos coastline. The string of birds passing over the very large wave seems unaffected by the event. Portions of the Point Lobos Reserve and the Carmel Highlands are seen in through the fog and mist.

keywords: waves, surf, swell, winter, spray, rocks, coast, shore, bay, rock, tree, forest, carmel highlands, california, usa, point lobos, reserve, park, state, fog, clouds, mist, atmosphere, mist, birds, gulls, flight, fly, person, stock

Flock of Pelicans, Sunset

Flock of Pelicans, Sunset

Flock of Pelicans, Sunset. Pacific Coast, California. September 2, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

A small flock of pelicans at sunset above the Pacific Ocean along the California coast.

A small group of Pelicans flying past the top of a high bluff above the Pacific Ocean coast of California at sunset on an early September evening.

keywords:flock, pelicans, five, flight, fly, sunset, evening, twilight, bird, shore, coast, shoreline, pacific, ocean, california, usa, highway, one, water, orange. gold, nature, seascape, wildlife, wings