This is a shot of a diving pelican the instant before it hit the water at Seaside yesterday. The California Brown Pelican is an icon along the SoCal coast, and is an amazing bird. They dive from heights of around 60 feet and can hit speeds of 40mph. They have several adaptations that keep them from being injured upon hitting the water including inflatable air sacks under their skin to help cushion the blow. These magnificent birds are fun to watch and are high on the list of my favorite birds to photograph.

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