American White Pelican

(First of a pair of frames of this bird) A group of ~40 of these were paddling about this lagoon, and I had to walk 1/2 mile around and through it to get the sun behind me. There was a slight wind from the east (over my left shoulder), and I knew the big/heavy birds would take off in my direction. This bird has just started that process, but the water limited the extend of the downstroke. The massive bird had to reach high above his head to generate enough force, and that accounts for the funky wing position. It's a pose which only presents during take-off. I was standing in waist-deep water when I capture this frame, so that's how I got the hella low angle at the instant the subect went airborne!

Fort de Soto, Pinellas County, Florida, 1/12/23
Canon 600mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x III on EOS R5
1/3200 at f/5.6, ISO 400