Thursday May 11 (Beach day)

The weather today followed a similar pattern to the many previous days. This was good as I had decided to have a beach day today. 

Even though the resort is pricey and I got a special rate, we still have to pay for chairs and an umbrella but at least we get a reduction, lol!

I wandered out to my chair as I had popped out before breakfast to organise it, and set myself up. The two girls in the photo did not seem to have a clue about what they were doing, lol! 

Otherwise, my attention was totally taken by the brown Pelicans and watching them constantly diving for fish. They take off by using their feet for three or four strides and then it is up and away. 

Sometimes they fly a distance, sometimes they swoop down and then fly low across the water but more often than not they put the brakes on and dive into the water. 


Just before they hit the water, they tuck their wings in and rotate slightly so they enter the water more on their back than their front. 

I saw this closer up as I was on the water for some time, just standing or floating around, it was lovely and warm although not that clear. I did look this up and it is a rotation to the left to protect their trachea and esophagus which are on the right!


Once the pelicans resurface, they can be seen working the fish from their beaks down into their throats after clearing the water out. With their large beaks they can obviously scoop up many fish at a time. 


The fishing was obviously very good as pelicans were diving constantly. 

Sometimes a lone pelican would dive but often they would take off in twos or threes and either dive together or split off from each other. However, occasionally their would be a large group, up to ten, take off and dive together, it is a very spectacular sight!! 

They often seem to perform synchronised flying in pairs, lol! They do not mate for life but they do stay with one mate for the breeding season.

As soon as they surface, seagulls immediately appear, seemingly to pick up the scraps or steal from the pelican's beak, lol! 

There is another bird, white with a black head and black wingtips and this also dives to fish. It does not seem to go under water, just pick up a fish and immediately take off up into the sky again. 

The Pelicans also do not seem to care about humans, there were many people fishing as well as jetskiers and people in boats.

I went back to my room to make sandwiches for a late lunch and returned to my chair to eat them. I then finished a book I had started on the way over and started another one!

About 3.30 pm I looked up and most of the pelicans had left the area, I am not sure where they go to but they must find the fishing better elsewhere! By late afternoon/evening the sea is very quiet.

I went up to my room about 4.30 pm and had a lovely shower. I went out about 8 pm and caught another nice sunset, not as spectacular as last night but still pretty good. Then it was time for dinner and bed!!