Thanks Ron. I also had never seen coots doing this before, but then I usually ignore them. I had to check with some local Audubon Society people to see if they were fightin' or lovin'
They confirmed the coots were fightin'.
Dean,
Thanks. I didn't use a blind. These were taken at White Rock Lake in Dallas, Tx, which has become an urban oasis of sorts for migrating birds. This is the only place I've been where one can get this close to White Pelicans in the wild. Some pelicans just stop here for a little R&R on their way down to the Texas Gulf coast, but some stay here for the winter. Those that stay hang out in this small cove which is a nice, protected haven for them. They have learned not to be bothered by people because there is still water between us and them. To give you an idea how close they are, the first preening shot was cropped to 4000x3000 pixels before down-sizing for the web. Of course, their white feathers are a challenge to shoot and I always make sure to under-expose somewhat so I can bring out detail and contrast during PP.
