All photographs ©2004 - 2008 by Mary Beth Stowe
Loons to Pelicans
Pale morph Northern Fulmar on the 2008 New Year's Day pelagic; the right-hand shots shows the "tube nose" that gives the order (Tubenoses) their name!
Much debate surrounded this lost Common Loon at Salton City! While too large for either Red-throated or Pacific, the
upturned bill led some to believe it could have been a Yellow-billed, but the dark culmen, lack of a "smile", and dark primary
shafts all pointed towards Common.
A Brown Pelican stretches his pouch while some Western Gulls look on at La Jolla Cove.
A group of American White Pelicans lounge in the eastern basin of San Elijo Lagoon.
Bathing American White Pelican at Fig Lagoon in Imperial County
American White Pelicans and a token Double-crested Cormorant at Buena Vista Lagoon
Brown Pelicans living on the edge at Sunset Cliffs
Immature Brown Pelican at Lake Henshaw, rather rare inland
A mom Clark's Grebe carries her baby on her back and enjoys a fish just given to her by her mate! (Taken at Lake Hodges.)
Several different flavors of Brown Pelicans at La Jolla Cove
The nuptial plumes on this Brandt's Cormorant make him look like the Old Man of the Mountain!
Adult Pied-billed Grebe (below) with his stripey youngster
A pair of adult Pied-billed Grebes at Santee Lakes
A Double-crested Cormorant at La Jolla Cove sporting the short-lived white "double crests"
Another Double-crested Cormorant poses in a Torrey Pine, also at La Jolla Cove
Yet another Double-crested Cormorant at La Jolla Cove
These cormorants at Santee Lakes don't know how to read!
This young Brown Pelican at Carlsbad was allowing ridiculously close approach and was eventually rescued by a state park ranger.