Sunday, May 10, 2009

#352-365 Watch



In my previous post "Multiples" Julie asked about the land visible in the distance, that is Moreton Island located slap bang in the middle of Moreton Bay - Brisbane's principal waterway. Sunny asked about the birds and yes there are a pair of cormorants plus two other pairs of dissimilar wading birds (Both Migratory) that I don't know the names of. Mary Lou asked about the traffic jam after completion of the bridgework well that is just how I envision the future based on the absolute hodgePodge that is there now, it will take until the 23rd century to sort it out.

That cleared up on with this posting, on the left hand side is the waters of Bramble Bay (The Estuary of Pine River) where the is an area called Pelican Park for reasons that will become obvious in the next few postings. I went there to plan shooting for next weeks Kite Festival but got drawn in by the number of Pelicans who were gathered to help the fishermen clean their catches. One brave sole took it on himself to try and hand feed one of the Pelicans.

He learned almost too late that all is fair in fishing and fish, as you can see, while the Huge Pelican was as watu as all get out, there are stouter, braver hearts out there who know how to make the most of any opportunity. Before the fisherman arrived I had seen this cormorant, or shag or (more aptly named "Darter") drive off three Pelicans that wanted to gang up on it and steal a bit of a morsel that he had doubtless stolen from some seagull or such somewhere, as you will see tomorrow.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wonderful story telling sequence, Ron. Did the guy leave with all his fingers intact?

Thanks for giving the identification of Moreton Island. I see from a Google search that it's a National Park and looks like an amazingly beautiful place. Hope we'll see some photos from there at some point!

Rachel said...

How great to be able to get close to such large birds! Great shots.

Kathy said...

I don't know if I'd be getting that close to those BIG pointy beaks! lol You have the most amazing birds where you are from!

Anonymous said...

Excellent, crisp and sharp shots of the pelicans, Ron!

Sunny said...

Cool! Hope that guy counted all his fingers after feeding the bird. Dumbfolk appear everywhere. (They're kind of like leprechauns, but much less charming and rich, and far more abundant!)

mljrbg said...

Fabulous shots and story. I love pelicans!!

Anonymous said...

A fool and his hand are soon parted! Goodness gracious those birds are big and their beaks even bigger - what was he thinking?!?? A wonderful capture of this folly.

Chesney said...

That man, one brave soul (or should I say stupid?) Looks like a dangerous feeding to me! Fun catch!

Anonymous said...

Unique take on the theme. Love the pelicans....that one hungry little guy must have learned if you snooze, you loose!

barbs said...

Oh too great! Love these shots Ron

DART said...

Biggest beaks I've ever seen...definitely would not be getting that close to those!

annalarssonphotography said...

Excellent shot Ron!!
So sharp and CLOSE to the pelicans :)

Anonymous said...

Really well shot and doubly good story. They are such unlikely looking birds.

tterlyn said...

That is something to watch..
Great shots on some greedy birds. That guy is crazy, I think those beaks are very strong. I hope he didn't run out of food!