I am in Galveston Texas for a few days for Feather Fest…a birding and nature festival held on the island each April (except for the year the hurricane came through). I was here the year after the hurricane when there was still a lot of visible damage. It is remarkable how fast a thriving tourist attraction can heal from even a major disaster.

One of the things about Galveston for the nature photographer, of course, is the Pelicans. I think there are more Brown Pelicans in the air over Galveston and in the waters just offshore at any one moment than I have seen in all my trips to other Pelican hangouts. I did not get checked in at the hotel until close to 5 PM, but that did not stop me from spending an hour on the beach right across the road shooting Pelicans in the air before finding supper. I have to say, the Galveston Pelicans are a scruffy lot…or maybe it is just the time of year…or maybe it is something in the water. Given the recent oil spill in the gulf, I suppose these birds might have some light oiling. At any rate, they are not nearly as smooth and presentable as their California cousins. I hope it is not oil, but it well might be.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 with 75-300mm zoom. I used my programed “flight mode”…continous 8 point auto focus, etc. I find that it works well on big soaring birds…is more of a challenge on smaller soaring birds (Gulls and Terns), and will take a lot of practice with smaller active flyers (I tried for Swallows last week in Ohio without much success). I am still learning the camera. ISO 200 @ 1/400th @ f8. Processed in Snapseed on my tablet. Cropped for composition.