{"id":112311,"date":"2023-04-16T02:58:29","date_gmt":"2023-04-16T08:58:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=112311"},"modified":"2023-10-04T05:51:16","modified_gmt":"2023-10-04T11:51:16","slug":"spring-american-white-pelican-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/04\/16\/spring-american-white-pelican-photos\/","title":{"rendered":"Spring American White Pelican Photos"},"content":{"rendered":"

This collection of American White Pelican photos were taken starting the 6th of April. Some of the images show the snow from a snowstorm earlier this month. I’ve had a busy month so far but I still wanted to share these photos.<\/p>\n

\"AmericanAmerican White Pelican after a spring snowstorm \u2013 Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1\/2500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

For my friends in warmer climates, it might seem strange to see these large American White Pelicans with snow included in the images. It isn’t unusual to see snow and these large, white pelicans in the same frame in northern Utah. The pelicans often return here to their breeding grounds before the ice is off all of the waters.<\/p>\n

\"AmericanAmerican White Pelican after daybreak \u2013 Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f9, 1\/3200, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

When the pelicans return to northern Utah, I can’t resist photographing them. I don’t even try to. Why would I? They are a fascinating species that I am fortunate to see for a large portion of the year.<\/p>\n

\"AmericanAmerican White Pelican with snow in the background \u2013 Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1\/3200, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Photographing these American White Pelicans can be tricky because exposing big, white birds is an exposure challenge. If I blow out the whites then fine details can’t be seen, if I underexpose them, those white feathers can look dingy gray. Getting the exposure right in camera makes for the best images of these pelicans.<\/p>\n

\"AmericanAmerican White Pelican and snow covered shoreline \u2013 Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f9, 1\/1600, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

American White Pelicans might seem ungainly when they walk on land. In the water and air they are pure gracefulness.<\/p>\n

\"AdultAdult American White Pelican on an early spring morning \u2013 Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f9, 1\/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

The pelicans can also be amusing. Their long bills, large pouches lend a bit of comedy to every interaction that I have with this species. At times, when I have them in my viewfinder, I can’t help but laugh.<\/p>\n

\"UrbanUrban American White Pelican up close \u2013 Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f9, 1\/2000, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Most of the time though? I’m mesmerized by them. These pelicans are big and bulky and it amazes me that they they can lift off into the air.<\/p>\n

\"AmericanAmerican White Pelican in a morning mist \u2013 Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1\/800, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

The morning I photographed this American White Pelican was cold, the water was warmer than the air above it which created a rising mist. I love getting photos of pelicans and other birds in a mist.<\/p>\n

\"EarlyEarly morning American White Pelican \u2013 Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1\/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Just two minutes later I had another pelican in my viewfinder that was in front of the morning mist in the bright morning light. I liked that light on the pelicans feathers.<\/p>\n

\"SpringSpring American White Pelican on an urban pond \u2013 Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1\/4000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

This American White Pelican<\/span><\/a> riding low on the water caught my eye because of its posture and the texture of its soft white feathers. The zig-zag reflection of its bill was also eye-catching.<\/p>\n

\"AmericanAmerican White Pelican flying low over a pond \u2013 Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f8, 1\/1600, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

And when this pelican flew past me I felt like I had to photograph it in the soft morning light. They really are large birds and I barely fit this one into my viewfinder.<\/p>\n

\"TwoTwo American White Pelicans swimming on a pond \u2013 Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f11, 1\/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

What is better than one American White Pelican?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Two of them floating along together.<\/p>\n

\"ThreeThree American White Pelicans side by side \u2013 Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f11, 1\/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

And if two pelicans are great, three are even better. This trio of pelicans were a joy to photograph.<\/p>\n

Over the next several months I will have more opportunities to see and photograph these amazing pelicans. I’m already off to a great start!<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my American White Pelican photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This collection of American White Pelican photos were taken starting the 6th of April. Some of the images show the snow from a snowstorm earlier this month.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":112282,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,27,709,26],"tags":[4004,3966,4053,10698,4154,4,706,1984,3973,165,8018,30,3996],"class_list":["post-112311","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-white-pelicans","category-avian","category-salt-lake-county-utah","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-american-white-pelican","tag-breeding-plumage","tag-park","tag-pelecanus-erythrorhynchos","tag-pelican","tag-pelicans","tag-pond","tag-salt-lake-county","tag-spring","tag-urban","tag-utah-2","tag-water"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/american-white-pelican-adult-mist-mia-mcpherson-0481.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-tdt","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":113592,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/05\/29\/spring-american-white-pelican-portraits\/","url_meta":{"origin":112311,"position":0},"title":"Spring American White Pelican Portraits","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 29, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Before summer begins, I wanted to share these American White Pelican portraits that I took along the shoreline of my local pond.","rel":"","context":"In "American White Pelicans"","block_context":{"text":"American White Pelicans","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/pelicans\/white-pelicans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American White Pelican portrait with a split horn, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/american-white-pelican-adult-mia-mcpherson-2343.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/american-white-pelican-adult-mia-mcpherson-2343.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, 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Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/american-white-pelican-in-fall-mia-mcpherson-5403.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/american-white-pelican-in-fall-mia-mcpherson-5403.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/american-white-pelican-in-fall-mia-mcpherson-5403.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/american-white-pelican-in-fall-mia-mcpherson-5403.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":113425,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/05\/15\/american-white-pelicans-study-of-light-and-shadows\/","url_meta":{"origin":112311,"position":3},"title":"American White Pelicans – Study Of Light And Shadows","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 15, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Last month there were plenty of American White Pelicans at my local pond. Because they were there I had the opportunity to photograph them in light and shadows.","rel":"","context":"In "American White Pelicans"","block_context":{"text":"American White Pelicans","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/pelicans\/white-pelicans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American White Pelicans with light and shadows, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/american-white-pelican-morning-light-mia-mcpherson-4533.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/american-white-pelican-morning-light-mia-mcpherson-4533.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/american-white-pelican-morning-light-mia-mcpherson-4533.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, 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2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Two days ago, as the sun first flooded the marshes with light, I was at Farmington Bay WMA photographing two American White Pelicans float on the water.","rel":"","context":"In "American White Pelicans"","block_context":{"text":"American White Pelicans","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/pelicans\/white-pelicans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American White Pelican reflections, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/american-white-pelican-reflections-mia-mcpherson-7234.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/american-white-pelican-reflections-mia-mcpherson-7234.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, 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