I’ve been at the beach for three weeks now and seen nary a pelican. Magnificent frigate birds we’ve seen in abundance, but no pelicans. Then, when I finished writing my blog early this morning, a mysterious unsigned message appeared as a comment:
“The peligans are back.” Spelling aside, I ran out to see the scene shown below—banks of pelicans soaring in, others resting on the waves, others on the offshore rock and moored boats and floats. You might guess that a poem evolved. You’d be right. Photos follow.
Return of the Pelicans
The pelicans come soaring in, completely at their ease
to settle on the empty waves wherever they may please.
They do not ask permission after being gone so long.
They don’t amuse with antics. They do not offer song.
We do not know where pelicans have kept themselves for weeks
when we were looking for them, taking furtive peeks
outside our doors, off terraces, and from our cafe chairs.
We missed their stretched-out funny bills. We missed their derrieres.
We have missed their diving prowess and their flying in a chain.
We missed their grumpy countenances. Missed their bland disdain.
So now that they are back with us, perching on our boats,
messing up our launches, defiling our floats,
we’d like to issue them a welcome, but they do not like the fuss.
It puzzles them, because they feel ambivalent towards us!
Click on any photo to enlarge all.
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 
I felt like I was there for a moment
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Just wait until you see the frigate birds right down the beach!
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Are the pelicans late, you early, or is this some strange fish-related anomaly?
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Fish-related anomaly. No fish, no pelicans.
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I thought maybe so — we’re having similar problems here, and I think that’s at least a part of why the great blue herons left a couple of years ago.
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I am glad you mention the pelicans. I was lucky to meet them in Monterey on our trip to California.
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I love to watch them dive bomb…a fun poem.
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How much fun that a reader alerted you to their return. I am fascinated watching them fish. How they do not break their necks always amazes me.
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You made me smile at their antics Judy. Sadly, we have no pelicans here in Ireland…
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No pelicans here either, but a lone heron has been visiting lately and perching on the roofs opposite. I’d love to know where he/she comes from and what’s attracting it. I’m pretty sure there are no ponds in those gardens. These lovely birds have a whole life away from us, don’t they? Thank you for sharing these beautiful photos and poem.
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Thanks, Juice. I love herons. They infest entire huge trees in the village where I live.
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Really? It must be an amazing sight. Chris 😊
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They cut down the tree where the night herons nested, but here are some closeups of the Great (Snowy Egret) Heron. I’ll try to find one of the whole tree. It is immense.
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Okay, juicenut. I went ahead and did a post of larger views of the egret tree. Here is the link: https://judydykstrabrown.com/2018/02/01/the-egret-tree-sunday-trees-324-jan-28-2018/
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I enjoyed your poem, our pelicans here in Australia look very different to yours 🙂
You are most welcome to drop by with your favorite beverage & tasty treat to join me in a time of reflection. 🙂
Jennifer
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Thanks, jennifer. I’ll do that. Very late here right now and I have an early appointment and then a writer’s meeting..If you don’t see me around , remind me again.
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