Sisters, Sun and Pelicans

Myrtle Beach with my sisters
me, Vicki, Kathy, Lynda

By: Pat Coate

I recently spent a weekend in Myrtle Beach for an annual get together with my sisters (our 10th such outing). We packed a full weekend in with lots of eating, little sleep, walks on the beach, hiking and birding at Huntington State Park and Murrells Inlet, zip lines, shopping, laughing, and just a bit of brother bashing.

The non-birding sisters were pretty tolerant with the birding sisters and we saw some good birds and bird behavior. One of the birding highlights was the brown pelicans we saw flying low over the ocean, diving down to feed, and perched on the docks at the salt marshes in Murrels Inlet.

Brown Pelicans (immature) Myrtle Beach

We watched a group of about 12 pelicans taking turns flying up and diving down to feed. These two are immature based on their brown heads and white underparts.

Brown Pelican (immature) diving down to feed

I’m not sure how they don’t damage their wings plummeting down into the water.

Brown Pelican (adult, winter plumage)

Brown Pelican (adult, winter plumage) at Murrells Inlet

Brown Pelican (adult) diving to feed

Brown Pelicans flying as the sun sets

This entry was posted on 18 November 2010 by patacoate. It was filed under Nature and was tagged with Brown Pelicans.

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9 responses

Lynda

Love the diving shots Pat! And the photo of the one sitting on the post is beautiful!

18 November 2010 at 7:51 am

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Jim

Brother bashing, you say??!!

18 November 2010 at 2:52 pm

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- Pat
  
  Hi Jim,
  
  Just a test to see if you read the blog! (And clearly it would be the other brother we would be bashing!)
  
  20 November 2010 at 9:46 am
  
  Reply
  - Jim
    
    Patty,
    
    I’m a definite fan of this blog and your contributions to it, but it took a comment like the one in your latest posting to get me to actually leave a reply!
    
    Jim
    
    21 November 2010 at 7:25 pm
Frank J Voelker

Great shots!

18 November 2010 at 4:25 pm

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KaHolly

I love pelicans, and I love the images you captured while you were on your get-away trip with your sisters. You all look alike! What fun you must have had. I know all about the tolerance a non-birder has to have! I’m visiting my daughter, and as long as I stick with the bigger species, she can handle it (except when we are driving and I want her to stop!). ~karen

18 November 2010 at 4:29 pm

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Nature Girl, April

Those pelicans are truly beautiful birds. They have a ‘regal’ look! Your photos are wonderful! Thanks for sharing them.

18 November 2010 at 6:37 pm

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Marg

What wonderful pelican shots! I love pelicans!

and your sisters look wonderful-no way-brother bashing? how could that be? 😛

20 November 2010 at 11:27 am

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vicki

You take amazing pictures! You even made us look good! 🙂

20 November 2010 at 11:48 pm

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