Pelicans in the Desert??? Never realized Pelicans would winter in Arizona. The lake these birds were inhabiting is about 5 miles from home. I discovered it 1 day last week when I had...

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

Never realized Pelicans would winter in Arizona. The lake these birds were inhabiting is about 5 miles from home. I discovered it 1 day last week when I had to make a stop off my normal travel route. Took some time Saturday afternoon to check it out & got some pictures. Went back this morning when the lighting was better. There is also a flock of Cormorants & a solo Great Egret. I'll have to go back again & work on my BIF techniques.

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UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Very nice work, Nick!

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Pelicans in the desert are at best uncommon and probably rare. Great find and really great shots

Gene Spearman Loc: Greenville, South Carolina.

Nice. Great variety.

jdtonkinson Loc: Red Wing, MN

Lucky you.. nice set

Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore

Nicely done

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Nice set.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

nicksr1125 wrote:

Never realized Pelicans would winter in Arizona. The lake these birds were inhabiting is about 5 miles from home. I discovered it 1 day last week when I had to make a stop off my normal travel route. Took some time Saturday afternoon to check it out & got some pictures. Went back this morning when the lighting was better. There is also a flock of Cormorants & a solo Great Egret. I'll have to go back again & work on my BIF techniques.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

Is this at the Gilbert Riparian Park? There used to be a whole flock of white pelis there.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Nice. Have fun.

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

nicksr1125 wrote:

Never realized Pelicans would winter in Arizona. The lake these birds were inhabiting is about 5 miles from home. I discovered it 1 day last week when I had to make a stop off my normal travel route. Took some time Saturday afternoon to check it out & got some pictures. Went back this morning when the lighting was better. There is also a flock of Cormorants & a solo Great Egret. I'll have to go back again & work on my BIF techniques.

Nice set Nick.

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

nicksr1125 wrote:

Never realized Pelicans would winter in Arizona. The lake these birds were inhabiting is about 5 miles from home. I discovered it 1 day last week when I had to make a stop off my normal travel route. Took some time Saturday afternoon to check it out & got some pictures. Went back this morning when the lighting was better. There is also a flock of Cormorants & a solo Great Egret. I'll have to go back again & work on my BIF techniques.

Love the shots 🤍⭐🤍⭐🤍

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

AzPicLady wrote:

Is this at the Gilbert Riparian Park? There used to be a whole flock of white pelis there.

No. I've been there & plan to go back sometime soon. This is a fairly new development called Morrison Ranch. The park is supposed to be private & only for the use of residents. Nobody questioned me either time I was there. It's on Higley just north of Warner.

Boris77

nicksr1125 wrote:

Never realized Pelicans would winter in Arizona. The lake these birds were inhabiting is about 5 miles from home. I discovered it 1 day last week when I had to make a stop off my normal travel route. Took some time Saturday afternoon to check it out & got some pictures. Went back this morning when the lighting was better. There is also a flock of Cormorants & a solo Great Egret. I'll have to go back again & work on my BIF techniques.

Man made lake? Stocked with fish?
Looks like a very unusual environment to photograph these birds in. I would certainly go there if I were a thousand miles closer.
Boris

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

Boris77 wrote:

Man made lake? Stocked with fish?
Looks like a very unusual environment to photograph these birds in. I would certainly go there if I were a thousand miles closer.
Boris

A lot of developments have a lake or 2 or at least retention "ponds" that are dry until it rains. We don't have storm drains common to most cities. We live in a 55+ community that has 3 ponds that are each about 3 acres.