Lake Macquarie @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
The Entrance is a smallish community on New South Wales’ central coast. It is here, where the large, but relatively shallow ‘Lake Macquarie’ spills into the Pacific Ocean.
Are there pelicans here @ Lake Macquarie, The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
With so much water around, it is quietly assumed, that there may be pelicans here.
Pelican haven @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Yes, they are! I didn’t quite assume on how many pelicans made these waterways their home.
Pelicans all around @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
The more the merrier I thought.
Close-up in black and white @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
I will have an even closer look on pelican’s appearance.
Bird’s eye view @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
A bird’s eye view, literally.
Bird’s eye view, double vision @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
In double vision.
Fast food options @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Pelicans just love ‘fast food’.
Beak opens automatically @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Any nourishment that requires no more effort then opening the beak is highly priced.
Place to be @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
And this is the place to be for some freebies.
Mingled @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
The daily afternoon feeding spectacle is well marked on these pelican’s senses.
Mind set @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
On every local pelican’s mind in fact. They weren’t shy either.
Close-up @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Some pelicans snapped at human spectators if they had gotten too close for comfort. As if there aren’t enough tourists on the Central Coast already, the customary pelican feeding frenzy attracts plenty of spectators.
Close eye contact @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Word of mouth got around by both parties.
Preparing @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
I missed the feeding party for crowd safety reasons. This wouldn’t be much fun for me.
Lead up @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Regardless, I was more interested in the lead-up to this event.
Perfect light conditions @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Light conditions for photographic images were better at this time of day, too.
Aperture playground @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Pelicans near and far stood out perfectly for aperture. With corona virus restrictions eased that very same day, Covid-19 seemed already forgotten by the smarter party. And what a festivity it was along the bustling waterfront.
Feeding ground @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
The pelicans on the other side, didn’t seem to care too much about the human cluster buster.
Corvid mingle @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
They mingled closely together just as well.
Unsociable distancing @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Social distancing wasn’t on these pelican’s marbles.
Different vibe @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
However, there was a different vibe at this spectacle to come.
Intriguing looks @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
No one could escape intriguing looks.
No movement is unnoticed @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
No matter how I raised or lowered my hand, it didn’t go unnoticed. All eyes on me. One of these human creatures could just have something tasty in their hands.
Keeping an eye out @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
One really needed to keep a good eye out.
Two eyes see more @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Or two.
Who’s watching who? @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Humans watching the pelicans behaviour, staring with their own two eyes. It was a bizarre scenario.
Staring Duell @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Like a giant Wild West stare-off. Who is gonna draw first?
What was that? @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
These eyes were magnetic to any quick manoeuvre.
Roger That! @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
There were signalling eyes.
I need food! @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Hypnotising eyes.
How are you doing? @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Cheeky eyes.
Sooo tired! @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
And a few tired eyes.
Peliying and yang @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Ying and yangs.
Hungry eyes @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
But most of all! Hungry eyes. Strategies were speculated.
All in position? @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Hidden signals were given.
The plot thickens @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
All angles were covered.
Signalling eyes @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
As the plot thickened, there was no escape.
They’re here! @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
One just needed a buzzer!
Anticipating @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
The anticipation from participants was unmissable, the feeding stakes are set.
Imaginary scenario @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
I should have chucked a few prawns in the midst of it and see how it would unfold. A hilarious thought.
Alien like @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
With so many yellow beacons in the air, alien shape figures appeared in the not so far distance.
Spooky @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
It sure looks like that on the frame.
Strange beacons @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Strange lanterns were held up in the air, moving in to all directions.
Eyeliners @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
No matter where I looked, a few eye-liners glanced at me. Alfred Hitchcock could have filmed his sequel right here, right now.
A homedy @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
A horror and a comedy movie in one! A homedy!
Cool pelican @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Some pelicans played it cool and cleaned their feathery gown.
Feeding veterans @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
These veterans interpreted this everyday procedure like a clockwork orange. It’s best to keep the trump to the very last minute.
All spots covered @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Itchy spots just needed to be looked after.
Neck shuffle @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
There is the usual neck shuffle, a crowd’s favourite.
Dried sack @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Other pelicans hung their beak sacks out to dry.
Perfect neck length @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
An insider view of a pelican’s beak opened, which I never captured before. I knew there was a reason why the have those long necks. Perfect positioning really.
Delegated @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
This delegation secured a guaranteed spot on the main stage, if one could hold their feeding ground.
Watching me, watching you @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
You are watched nonetheless. Make no mistake.
More arrivals @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
While the more experienced pelican group kept their cool, the flock grew quicker by the minute. The sun was setting lower over the horizon, surely dinner time isn’t too far off.
Tight entrance @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
The feeding watch was well imprinted in a pelican’s mind. It gotten a bit tight around the feeding grounds meanwhile.
A piece of the fish cake @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
More and more pelicans swam across for a piece of the fish-cake.
Afternoon plumage pilgrims @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
The afternoon plumage pilgrimage has started.
Peli-caravan @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
The peli-caravan is on its way in uncharted territory.
Spotless @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
But that didn’t guarantee a spot on the platform. Two dozen of early birds queued the streets already.
Tickets @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Parking tickets, please!
Crowd buster @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Well, my ticket expired at the same time. Way too many people cramped my social-distancing style. I should have gotten my kayak to capture this event backstage.
Sunset over Lake Macquarie @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Fortunately, a spectacular sunset unfolded over Lake Macquarie not far from here.
Reflections @ The Entrance, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
The calm shallow waters guaranteed glorious sunny reflections.
With a pelican’s entrance off course.
Travels with Ben 