The first two weeks of 2024 have been great as far as photographing wildlife in La Jolla is concerned. Many mornings the weather has been typically “winter perfect” (shorts and hoodie) and we have consistently had large swells rolling in which leads to a lot of flight activity in all the birds. La Jolla Cove’s bodysurfing sea lions — my main focus this winter — have been exceptional as well although it took them a while to get going. As for the birds — terns and pelicans — I keep trying for the same shots of them, with wings flared wide as they brake to land on seaside bluffs, in the hope of getting a perfect image. It will never happen because there is no perfect image, but it’s a lot of fun and good practice to keep trying. With 30 frames per second, it is simple to generate a series of well-focused images as the birds approach, each showing a slightly different arrangement of wings. head, eyes, primary feathers and background. Some of those images work, most don’t and get deleted instantly. But occasionally the 30-fps approach leads to an image with what would otherwise be considered distracting elements in the foreground or background that by chance form an appealing composition, at least to me. I can’t quite put my finger on why I like these, but I do. Perhaps they communicate something about the larger scene, hinting at the crowdedness of the landing area or other things going on around the birds, or perhaps they simply balance the main subject with another anchor or a sense of tension. Regardless, here are some of my favorite flight images that are more than just a bird frozen in time with its wings spread, many produced this season (since November). Cheers, and thanks for looking!
California brown pelican in flight, spreading wings wide to slow in anticipation of landing on seacliffs. Note the classic winter breeding plumage, with bright red throat, yellow and white head and neck, and brown hind neck. Other birds at the periphery of the image hint at how crowded the cliff is.
Image ID: 40069
Location: La Jolla, California
California brown pelican in flight, spreading wings wide to slow in anticipation of landing on seacliffs. Note the classic winter breeding plumage, with bright red throat, yellow and white head and neck, and brown hind neck. Other birds at the periphery of the image hint at how crowded the cliff is.
Image ID: 40070
Location: La Jolla, California
Brown pelican in flight. The wingspan of the brown pelican is over 7 feet wide. The California race of the brown pelican holds endangered species status. In winter months, breeding adults assume a dramatic plumage.
Image ID: 28962
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
California brown pelican in flight. The wingspan of the brown pelican is over 7 feet wide. The California race of the brown pelican holds endangered species status. In winter months, breeding adults assume a dramatic plumage.
Image ID: 28977
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
California brown pelican in flight, spreading wings wide to slow in anticipation of landing on seacliffs. Note the classic winter breeding plumage, with bright red throat, yellow and white head and neck, and brown hind neck. Other pelicans and cormorants at the periphery of the image hint at how crowded the cliff is with other birds.
Image ID: 36679
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
California brown pelican in flight. The wingspan of the brown pelican is over 7 feet wide. The California race of the brown pelican holds endangered species status. In winter months, breeding adults assume a dramatic plumage.
Image ID: 28970
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Brown Pelicans Flying Along Sheer Ocean Cliffs, rare westerly winds associated with a storm allow pelicans to glide along La Jolla's cliffs as they approach shelves and outcroppings on which to land. Backlit by rising sun during stormy conditions.
Image ID: 38867
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Brown Pelicans Landing on Goldfish Point in La Jolla. Pelicans parachute into the rock on gusty winds, looking for a place to land on the crowded rocky outcropping. Backlit by rising sun during stormy conditions.
Image ID: 38876
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Unstable Cliffs, Stay Back, No Public Access.
Image ID: 37445
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
