A few birds from the Yucatan

[Philmar]

Living in a large metropolis I find birds are not one of my principal photographic subject but when I travel the local birds usually are what remind me of our planet's biodiversity.
Here are a few of my winged subjects while in the Yucatan last month.

Flamingos strutting their stuff in Ría Celestún, Mexico by Phil Marion, on Flickr

American White Pelican in flight - Rio Lagartos, Mexico by Phil Marion, on Flickr

Cruising the harbour of Rio Lagartos, Mexico by Phil Marion, on Flickr

Cruising for fish in Rio Lagartos, Mexico [Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis] by Phil Marion, on Flickr

Egret and heron (in the shade) - Mangroves of Dzinitun near Celestun, Mexico by Phil Marion, on Flickr

Flamingo in flight- Celestun,Mexico by Phil Marion, on Flickr

Sandpiper looking for breakfast - Holbox, Mexico by Phil Marion, on Flickr

 

[Philmar]

On the way to Mexico I had an early morning flight and in my caffeine lacking state I actually FORGOT to bring my 150 -600 Sigma lens and was kicking myself the whole 2 weeks I was down there.

 

[Dean_Gretsch]

You managed quite well without the long lens!

 

[HavToNo]

Great series.

 

[Jeff15]

Very nice set of images....

 

[Jeff G]

Love the flamingo in flight and the pelican low pass! Very nice set.

 

[N.V.M.]

some of the best i've seen lately on these boards!

 

[baturn]

Great set!

 

[JoeW]

Outstanding stuff. My only question: you were in the Yucatan and didn't get any Toucans?

 

[rosh4u]

I don't feel that bird photography is not your subject! I mean nobody will believe this after looking at the set of pictures that you have captured. Totally mind-blowing!

 

[Philmar]

Outstanding stuff. My only question: you were in the Yucatan and didn't get any Toucans?

Correct. I was mainly on the north coast where my principle aim was to photograph the seascape/long exposures. But I'll photograph whatever is in front of me and I was smitten by these birds. I imagine toucans are jungle dwellers further inland? And I was limited to a max focal length of 200 mm.

 

[RVT1K]

As goofy as they look on land, pelicans are kind of majestic in the air.
I like the one where the pelican is skimming over the water.

 

[Philmar]

As goofy as they look on land, pelicans are kind of majestic in the air.

I wonder if they don't have an element of mischievous in them. They are also good gliders in the air. On a few occasions I was standing on the edge of a pier watching scenery or waiting for bird subjects with camera in hand only to have a pelican glide from behind me a couple feet overhead that surprised the $hit out of me as they have massive wing spans. I almost fell off the pier or dropped my camera because they flew unexpectedly overhead by only a few feet.