Tags
Avila Beach, California, dolphins, humpback whales, nature, ocean life, pelicans, San Luis Bay, whale migration
Over placid waters
of late summer,
brown pelicans
glide effortlessly
just above the surface
then abruptly rise,
and spotting their quarry
plunge like fierce arrows
shot from the heavens
to capture their prey.
Standing on Harford Pier
we watch their show
amused and amazed
by their grace,
their swiftness,
their accidental nonchalance.
A steel-blue day greets us,
as well as a bustle of birds,
a sampling of seals,
a dalliance of dolphins,
and a fortuitous sighting
of Humpback whales
cruising the harbor,
tails slapping,
feeding in the plentiful waters
of San Luis Bay
before heading south again
on migration to Mexico.
Words (c) 2012 Mark Lloyd Richardson
Photos (c) 2012 Dallis Day Richardson