Brown Pelicans were common along the bay front at San Francisco and at the Salton Sea but less common elsewhere with birds at La Merced, Morro Bay and Monterey. The first two birds below are from San Francisco Bay with the last at Salton Sea at Obsidian Butte.
California - November 2009
Pelicans & Cormorants
Brown Pelican
American White Pelican
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Scarcer and less common, away from the Salton Sea, American White Pelican was first seen at La Merced where a fine flock was seen several times in flight and roosting on one of the washes. At the Salton Sea I passed many whilst driving south. On the coast was only seen at Morro Bay where it was uncommon. These birds are the La Merced flock.
All of the cormorants were fairly common on the coast however Double-crested Cormorant was particularly widespread at inland locations, this bird, below, was at Lake Merrit in Oakland.
On the coast Pelagic Cormorants were often very abundant, i.e. at Morro Rock and off Monterey with this bird being at Moss Landing. Note the black face lacking the bare orange skin of the Double-crested above.