There is a famous limerick:

A wonderful bird is the pelican.

His bill can hold more than his belican.

He can hold in his beak

Enough food for a week,

But I’m damned if I see how the helican.

Pelicans are rare birds in Ontario though there is a breeding colony of American Pelicans at Lake of the Woods in spring.

So it is always a delight to see these amazing creatures along more southerly coasts.

I observed a pair of Brown Pelicans at the harbour in Cozumel, Mexico. They alternated perching on the shore and making spectacular dives into the shallow water. A fish meal was often the result. Here are some photos of these remarkable birds.

I tried unsuccessfully to photograph the moment of a dive impact but got close.

Miles Hearn