Boat Ride the Second

That's right! Last week's post Boat Ride the First did in fact imply that there was another to come, and here it is.

This one is a sunset boat tour into Rookery Bay, where you go out to see the island where the birds are coming in to nest for the night. I know I've done it before, but it was years ago.

One note, this boat was smaller than the other boat tour, and completely full, so it was harder to get photos without someone's head or part of the boat in them.

Pelicans in tree:

I think this was an osprey, but don't bet the farm on it.

We saw both osprey and bald eagles, and though the guide told us how to tell them apart, from a distance, all I could swear to it, "Look! Bird! Possibly bird of prey!"

Or two, in this case.

I'm pretty sure this one would be an osprey, as they're the ones who have nests on these markers.

Early in the season, the guide said, they're not quite used to the boats going close by. In a few months, she said, they won't be at all bothered.

More bird.

Nicely silhouetted, if I do say so.

White ibis.

And here we come up on the rookery. Already seems like a lot of birds there, doesn't it?

Boats etc aren't allowed to get any closer, and I imagine the pelican saying, "Well, I can go closer if I want to."

The first of many "see the birds flying in" photos.

(Click on any photo to see it bigger.)

"You again?" Yes; the boat kept circling the island, at the required distance.

And pelican heads against the sky.

Flap flap.

Oh, look, the sign pelican has a friend.

Sun is setting.

Birds are flying in.

You keep thinking more can't fit, but they cram in pretty closely.

And keep coming.

Heading back in, the light on sky and water was so lovely.

Crescent moon!

The end.