At the Lake - Pelican Sightings

In the fall of the year, American White Pelicans migrate south through Kentucky Lake and what a thrill it is for a birdwatcher like me.

Maybe it is because of their huge wingspan . . .

or their long yellow bills with expandable throat pouches . . .

or even their orange feet . . .

Who knows the attraction to the American White Pelicans!

On Saturday, October 18, they came into Cypress Bay and very close to our boat docks. We weren't out in the boats looking for them as in the past. We were able to watch them dive for fish right from our dock.

You know I was snapping my camera as quick as I could.

Whatever it is that is so thrilling about the White Pelican migration, we always are on the lookout for them in the fall!

Linking to:

MET Monday @ BNOTP

AWWW Mondays @ Xmas Dolly

OMHG Wonderful Wednesday on Monday

You're the Star @ God's Growing Garden on Monday

Image-in-ing on Monday

Through My Lens on Monday

My Corner of the World @ Photographing New Zealand on Wednesday

Wild Bird Wednesday @ Paying Ready Attention on Wednesday am

Wordless Wednesday @ Comedy Plus

Thinking Out Loud Thursday @ Penney's Passion on Wednesday

Homestead Blog Hop @ Ridge Haven Homestead

Thankful Thursday @ It's a Small Town Life

Little Things Thursday @ Random-osity

Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner & Follow The Yellow Brick Home

Water H20 Thursday @ Roentare Blog on Thursday

Weekend Reflections on Friday

Saturday's Critters @ Viewing Nature with Eileen on Saturday 

Mosaic Monday @ South and Mind and So On on Sunday

Sunday Best

Love Your Creativity Link Party @ Life and Linda on Sunday at 2pm

Sundays on Silverado @ The House on Silverado

At The Lake - American White Pelican Migration

Living near Kentucky Lake, we get to enjoy the water and the migration of the American White Pelicans. 

We are boaters so we are at the lake every weekend and sometimes during the week (nice part about being retired).

The American White Pelicans arrive at Kentucky Lake in September, and we love to go "pelican hunting".

For me, Pelican Hunting means trying to get the best photographs I can of these huge birds. I have a zoom lens on my camera, but it is often not quite enough to get that perfect pic. Guess I need a bigger zoom!

Because they are usually in such shallow water, we often take out one of our fishing boats. The shallow water makes it difficult to get close to the pelicans. 

Whether it is a single pelican or a pod of pelicans, it's always a thrill to find them. Love the reflection in the bottom pic of the pelicans. 

A unique characteristic of the pelican is the "gular pouch" inside its beak. This pouch is used in catching fish and holding fish after they are scooped up. 

Their wings are white and black, and they can have a wingspan of 9 feet. 

The American white Pelicans have short strong legs with webbed toes which allows them to take off from the water. I plan to do a little more pelican hunting next weekend.

Thanks for stopping by to see the American White Pelicans - Judy.

Links

MET Monday @ BNOTP

OMHG Wonderful Wednesday on Monday

You're the Star @ God's Growing Garden on Monday

Image-in-ing on Monday

Through My Lens on Monday

Wild Bird Wednesday @ Paying Ready Attention on Wednesday am

My Corner of the World @ Photographing New Zealand on Wednesday

Thankful Thursday @ It's A Small Town Life

Water H20 Thursday @ Roentare Blog on Thursday

Weekend Reflections on Friday

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound on Friday

Saturday's Critters @ Viewing Nature with Eileen on Saturday 

Mosaic Monday @ South and Mind and So On on Sunday

At the Lake - American White Pelicans

What an exciting surprise we got on a short trip to the lake this week!

My sister-in-law came for a weekend visit while the guys went deer hunting. You know how some guys just love deer camp! But for the girls, we decided to spend the weekend sewing and doing girl things.  

Although the temps were in the low 30's and it was windy, we needed to make a quick run to the lake to pick up her earrings that were left on her boat. 

When we pulled in the parking lot at Cypress Springs where we boat, I saw there were American White Pelicans at the boat docks. I can't tell you how excited I was to see them.

I couldn't get out of the car fast enough and head down the dock to try and get a few pics before they swam off.

At first, the pelicans started swimming away but after I stood still a bit, they started swimming back to the dock.

The pelicans usually start migrating in the fall and arrive to Kentucky Lake in October. So, I certainly wasn't expecting any to still be hanging around on the lake in November. 

Hope you enjoyed seeing the American White Pelicans on Kentucky Lake - Judy. 

Sorry my pics aren't great, but I only had my iPhone with me.

Linking to:

MET Monday @ BNOTP

OMHG Wonderful Wednesday on Monday

You're the Star @ God's Growing Garden on Monday

Image-in-ing on Monday

Through My Lens on Monday

Wild Bird Wednesday @ Paying Ready Attention on Wednesday am

My Corner of the World @ Photographing New Zealand on Wednesday

Saturday's Critters @ Viewing Nature with Eileen on Saturday 

American White Pelicans on Kentucky Lake

What a day to be impressed! A few friends and I went pelican hunting on the south end of Kentucky Lake. 

My pics aren't perfect, but I tried my best. I was in a moving boat plus the pelicans did not stop in mid air for me to get the best snaps. 

We have been searching for the pelicans as they migrate southward through Kentucky Lake for a couple weeks. A friend shared the pic below of the pelicans at the north end of the lake.

This was my third attempt to cruise the lake and look for the pelicans. With a nine foot wingspan, the American White Pelican is one of our largest birds.

Last weekend, we found a small squadron of approximately 30 pelicans but they were in such shallow water, we couldn't get any good pics. We even hit lake bottom with the boat and had to push our way out of the shallow water. WE TRIED!

Did you know the pelican does not dive for fish from the air? They like to eat in shallow water.

That's it for todays pelican hunt but stay tuned, I hope to do some more hunting this weekend. - Judy.

Linking to:

Thankful Thursday @ It's a Small Town Life

Little Things Thursday @ Random-osity

Thursday Favorite Things @ Follow the Yellow Brick Home

Grace at Home @ Imparting Grace on Thursday

Friday Favorites Link Party @ Penny's Passion on Thursday

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound

Saturday's Critters @ Viewing Nature with Eileen on Saturday 

Mosaic Monday @ Letting Go of the Bay Leaf on Saturday

Nature Notes @ Rambling Woods on Monday pm