{"id":137309,"date":"2024-11-23T02:44:08","date_gmt":"2024-11-23T08:44:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=137309"},"modified":"2025-07-07T11:03:51","modified_gmt":"2025-07-07T16:03:51","slug":"pink-hour-kerr-lock-and-dam-american-white-pelican-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/11\/23\/pink-hour-kerr-lock-and-dam-american-white-pelican-photos\/","title":{"rendered":"Pink Hour: Kerr Lock and Dam American White Pelican Photos"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yesterday, I visited the Robert S. Kerr Lock and Dam<\/span><\/a> in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, where one of the first birds I photographed was this American White Pelican.<\/p>\n

\"AmericanAmerican White Pelican flying over the Arkansas River during “pink hour” \u2013 Canon R7, handheld, f8, 1\/200, ISO 2500, Canon EF 100-400mm II at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Steve Creek<\/span><\/a> and I arrived at the lock and dam before sunrise. It was chilly, not much above freezing. There were already birds on the water and over the Arkansas River, including gulls, cormorants, and pelicans.<\/p>\n

Something I’ve noticed since moving here is that the eastern sky often has a lovely red glow before dawn and shortly afterward. I didn\u2019t see that living in Utah because the Wasatch Mountains blocked the sunrise. I remember seeing it before in other states, though.<\/p>\n

Rather than the \u201cblue hour\u201d often discussed in photography, there can also be a \u201cpink hour\u201d depending on that red glow to the east.<\/p>\n

\u201cPink hour,\u201d while not a widely used term, refers to the time shortly before sunrise when the sky can take on beautiful pastel hues, including pinks and soft oranges. This phenomenon often happens as the sun sits just below the horizon, illuminating clouds and creating a warm glow that many photographers find appealing.<\/p>\n

Some photographers informally call this time \u201cpink hour\u201d because of these softer tones that appear during dawn, especially when atmospheric conditions are just right.<\/p>\n

The \u201cpink hour\u201d was glowing and reflecting on the Arkansas River yesterday, and this pelican looked lovely in it.<\/p>\n

\"AmericanAmerican White Pelican preening on the Arkansas River at dawn \u2013 Canon R7, handheld, f8, 1\/250, ISO 2500, Canon EF 100-400mm II at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

The second image shows the same American White Pelican preening as it floats by on the fast-moving Arkansas River at dawn.<\/p>\n

These American White Pelican photos will always remind me of my first trip to the lock and dam. Sure, these images aren’t my best pelican photos, I was pretty far away from the bird, but they\u2019ll still hold special meaning for me from that visit.<\/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":"

Yesterday, I visited the Robert S. Kerr Lock and Dam in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, where one of the first birds I photographed was this American White Pelican.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":137303,"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":[3,27,15994,13973,15995],"tags":[4004,3966,14023,970,15997,1030,4224,4620,15999,15998,15996,4154,4,706,16000,5558,3996],"class_list":["post-137309","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-white-pelicans","category-avian","category-le-flore-county","category-oklahoma","category-robert-s-kerr-lock-and-dam","tag-adult","tag-american-white-pelican","tag-arkansas-river","tag-autumn","tag-dam","tag-dawn","tag-early-morning","tag-fall","tag-kerr-dam","tag-kerr-lock","tag-lock","tag-pelecanus-erythrorhynchos","tag-pelican","tag-pelicans","tag-pink-hour","tag-river","tag-water"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/american-white-pelican-kerr-dam-mia-mcpherson-9750.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-zIF","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":137325,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/11\/24\/pink-hour-american-white-pelicans-and-double-crested-cormorants-over-the-arkansas-river\/","url_meta":{"origin":137309,"position":0},"title":"Pink Hour: American White Pelicans and Double-crested Cormorants over the Arkansas River","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 24, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Today, I'm sharing a photo of a small flock of American White Pelicans and a Double-crested Cormorant flying by in the gorgeous pink sky at the lock and dam.","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 and Double-crested Cormorants over the Arkansas River in early morning light, Robert S. Kerr Lock and Dam, Le Flore County, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/american-white-pelicans-double-crested-cormorants-pink-mia-mcpherson-9794.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/american-white-pelicans-double-crested-cormorants-pink-mia-mcpherson-9794.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/american-white-pelicans-double-crested-cormorants-pink-mia-mcpherson-9794.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/american-white-pelicans-double-crested-cormorants-pink-mia-mcpherson-9794.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14331,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/02\/13\/caution-spring-birds-ahead\/","url_meta":{"origin":137309,"position":1},"title":"Caution: Spring Birds Ahead","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 13, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"It won't be long before the American White Pelicans are back at Bear River National Wildlife Refuge which is where I photographed the pelican in the image above last spring.","rel":"","context":"In "American Avocets"","block_context":{"text":"American Avocets","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/shorebirds\/american-avocets\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Avocets and the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/american-avocet-mia-mcpherson-8543.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/american-avocet-mia-mcpherson-8543.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/american-avocet-mia-mcpherson-8543.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/american-avocet-mia-mcpherson-8543.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9077,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/08\/02\/nine-foot-wingspans-american-white-pelicans\/","url_meta":{"origin":137309,"position":2},"title":"Nine Foot Wingspans – American White Pelicans","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 2, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday while on the auto tour route of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge the birds that I saw in the highest numbers were American White Pelicans.","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 showing the nearly 9 foot wingspan, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/american-white-pelican-flying-mia-mcpherson-9838.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/american-white-pelican-flying-mia-mcpherson-9838.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/american-white-pelican-flying-mia-mcpherson-9838.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/american-white-pelican-flying-mia-mcpherson-9838.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4851,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/04\/21\/american-white-pelicans-of-the-great-basin\/","url_meta":{"origin":137309,"position":3},"title":"American White Pelicans of the Great Basin","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 21, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"During the winter months I miss seeing large flocks of American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) soaring in the thermals, in the past few weeks I have been delighted to see them again.","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":"Fluffed up American White Pelican, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/american-white-pelican-fluffed-mia-mcpherson-4670.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/american-white-pelican-fluffed-mia-mcpherson-4670.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/american-white-pelican-fluffed-mia-mcpherson-4670.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/american-white-pelican-fluffed-mia-mcpherson-4670.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":726,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2010\/09\/05\/american-white-pelican-preening-session\/","url_meta":{"origin":137309,"position":4},"title":"American White Pelican Preening Session","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 5, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Birds were scarce, the water level in the ponds was low so there were only a few shorebirds. On the way out of the refuge though we stopped to photograph some American White Pelicans and a few Double-crested Cormorants.","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 and Double-crested Cormorant scratching, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-cormorant-double-scratch-mia-mcpherson-7917.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-cormorant-double-scratch-mia-mcpherson-7917.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-cormorant-double-scratch-mia-mcpherson-7917.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-cormorant-double-scratch-mia-mcpherson-7917.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28906,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/10\/05\/american-white-pelican-in-a-fog-at-red-rock-lakes-national-wildlife-refuge\/","url_meta":{"origin":137309,"position":5},"title":"American White Pelican In A Fog At Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 5, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"This American White Pelican image was taken on my first camping trip to Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge","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 in a fog at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, Montana","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-fog-mia-mcpherson-6412.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-fog-mia-mcpherson-6412.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-fog-mia-mcpherson-6412.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-fog-mia-mcpherson-6412.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137309","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=137309"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137309\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/137303"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=137309"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=137309"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=137309"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}