The pelican is the beach’s resident entertainment. A squadron glides past just above the swell, wingtips almost touching the water, and then one peels off, climbs, folds up and hits the sea like something dropped from a roof.
Where you’ll see it
Every beach on this coast, all day, and clustered around the fishing boats and the pier when there is something to be had. They rest on rocks, posts and moored boats between fishing runs.
What to know
The plunge dive is the show. A pelican spots a fish from the air, climbs, then drops with wings folded back and hits the water bill first, the pouch ballooning to scoop up fish and several litres of water. It surfaces, drains the pouch and swallows. It looks chaotic and it works.
They are used to people and will beg at the dock. Fish scraps do them no favours and keep them dependent on the boats, so admire and do not feed.
