Pelican Burrum Heads Boat Ramp

Pelican Walks to shore, originally uploaded by Ladymaggic.

This was an awesome experience

The day had been good for fishing, and five fish skeletons were left for the birds.
A pelican and a whole group of seagulls were on the shore after the fish.
I took many photos.



This is when the pelican walked to the shore, grabbed on of the fish and took it back out to sea to swallow it whole.

There are seven species of pelicans in the world, all of which are similar in shape and, with one exception, are primarily white in colour. Males are larger than females. The most characteristic feature of pelicans is the elongated bill with its massive throat pouch. The Australian Pelican's bill is 40 cm - 50 cm long and is larger in males than females. Pelicans have large wings and a wingspan of 2.3 m - 2.5 m.
Pelicans are highly mobile, searching out suitable areas of water and an adequate supply of food. Pelicans are not capable of sustained flapping flight, but can remain in the air for 24 hours, covering hundreds of kilometres. They are excellent soarers and can use thermals to rise to considerable altitudes. Flight at 1,000m is common, and heights of 3 000 m have been recorded. By moving from one thermal to the next, pelicans can travel long distances with a minimum of effort, reaching air speeds of up to 56 km/hour.

http://birdsinbackyards.net/bird/82

Seagulls on the shore

Seagulls on the shore, originally uploaded by Ladymaggic.

This week has seen a group of Pacific Gulls watching the waters for fish

Shags

Shags, originally uploaded by Ladymaggic.

Shags have little oil in their feathers, and get waterlogged when they swim. This guy sat up on the Light Pole to dry.

Seagulls...Pacific Gull

seagulls, originally uploaded by Ladymaggic.

It is interesting that I could not find 'Seagulls' via Google, and had to search 'seabirds' to find the Pacific Gull, which is the correct name for the bird loosely called 'seagull'.
Interesting is also the fact that there are not many seagulls in Burrum Heads.
We bought some take away and looked for birds to feed with scraps and there weren't any. This area does not attract birds that scavenge or look for food scraps. Maybe they find enough fish and sea-life as the shores are laden with small sea-life.
This large flock was sitting on the waters edge.
The birds here are very nervous of humans. They fly off if you venture closer.They are not used to people.

Sea birds are most commonly found on, over or near the ocean. However many sea birds may be found at other water sources, such as lakes and wetlands, and can become common in urban areas.
http://birdsinbackyards.net/feature/seabirds.cfm

* Adelie Penguin
* Australasian Gannet
* Australian Pelican
* Black-browed Albatross
* Black-faced Cormorant
* Caspian Tern
* Common Tern
* Crested Tern
* Emperor Penguin
* Fairy Tern
* Flesh-footed Shearwater
* Great Cormorant
* Gull-billed Tern
* Kelp Gull
* King Penguin
* Little Black Cormorant
* Little Penguin
* Little Pied Cormorant
* Little Tern
* Pacific Gull
* Pied Cormorant
* Short-tailed Shearwater
* Silver Gull
* Sooty Shearwater
* Wandering Albatross

The Pacific Gull is a very large black-backed gull with a massive yellow bill, broadly tipped with scarlet. The upper wings and wingtips are wholly black with a narrow white inner trailing edge, the tail is white with a broad black band near the end. The legs are yellow to orange-yellow. Juvenile Pacific Gulls are mottled dark brown with pale face and the bill is pink with a black tip. The immatures have dark brown wings, whitish mottled body and a black-tipped yellow bill. There are two forms of the Pacific Gull: the eastern form (race pacificus) has a white eye and a complete red tip to the bill while the western form (race gergii) has a red eye and an incomplete red tip to the bill.

http://birdsinbackyards.net/bird/249