Capturing brown pelicans

Tony Britton explains how preparation and patience are key to photographing these very large birds

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The brown pelican is a commonly seen bird along the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts in the Americas. With a typical wingspan of around 2m, it's an enormous bird - an adult can weigh between 2kg and 5kg. The brown pelicans I photograph are primarily found along the central coast of California. The one featured here was among a group located at Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz.

One of the most spectacular behavioural displays to photograph is their twisting plunge-dive technique into the ocean when capturing small fish. I especially enjoy using a high-speed burst rate when photographing pelicans while they're landing. This showcases a series of dramatic wing positions as they decelerate and complete the landing process.