Pelican Stare Down

 We went to Mom's for her birthday and spent Sunday afternoon under the Sanibal bridge fishing...well actually I was chilling, taking in some sun, breeze and a few pics.  I found a couple piers and while I was looking at them...this pelican swooped down and landed on the end of the pier in front of me.  So I inched out toward him.

He noted me...but didn't seem intimidated...although he kept an eye on me.

After awhile he seemed to get comfortable and settled in.

Then I guess I got a little too close...he extended his neck and stared me down...and showed off that wicked claw on the end of his beak...yikes! So I decided to leave him be...it was a gift to have gotten that close to begin with.

Hungry Pelican

While watching the sunset recently we noticed alot of pelicans soaring over the surface and then nose diving right into the water to capture their dinner. Looking at the sequence of these two photos I know this isn't the same one, but it sure does look like it :o) Wonder how they can see the fish in such low light?