Pelicans are very large and weighty birds: 1.7 metres from head to tail, weighing up to 13 kilograms. So, not a bird that you’d expect to see perched on a street lamp. The idea of three of them perched on the same lamp at the same time sounds unlikely, if not bizarre.

Yet, when I arrived at Long Reef Aquatic Reserve in Collaroy, I was greeted by this sight:

No wonder the street lamps are of sturdy construction!

What a face! A little glum, a little world-weary, but so wise:

When flying, a pelican is graceful and beautiful. Even so, it reminds me of an armchair in the sky:

Three Australian Pelicans head off towards the ocean, with a White-faced Heron in the distance:

Common name: Australian Pelican
Scientific name: Pelecanus conspicillatus
Approximate length: 170 cm
Approximate wingspan: 2.5m
Date spotted: 24 March 2024 (summer)
Location: Long Reef Aquatic Reserve, Collaroy, New South Wales, Australia: 33°44’19.7″S 151°18’42.0″E