---
title: California Brown Pelican
link: https://simonwillison.net/2026/Sep/12/sighting-399708714/
source: simonwillison-net
published: 2026-09-12T21:16:09Z
updated: 2026-09-12T21:16:09Z
first_seen: 2026-09-12T23:18:46.813688217Z
labels:
- wildlife
summary: 'California Brown Pelican, in San Mateo County, CA, US The Pacifica Pier shut down at the start of June after a crack in the concrete walkway made access to the pier unsafe. It has since been entirely taken over by pelicans! Tags: wildlife'
content: extracted
html: 2026-09-12-california-brown-pelican.html
preview:
  file: 2026-09-12-california-brown-pelican.preview-8d62f50ca445.webp
  width: 256
  height: 171
  alt: California Brown Pelican
  color: '#8b9dbd'
images:
- source: https://static.inaturalist.org/photos/733368932/large.jpg
  original:
    file: 2026-09-12-california-brown-pelican.image-5bd162c690ce.jpg
    width: 1024
    height: 683
  color: '#c9dbfb'
- source: https://static.inaturalist.org/photos/733368989/large.jpg
  original:
    file: 2026-09-12-california-brown-pelican.image-0b7e260e921d.jpg
    width: 1024
    height: 683
  color: '#6888bb'
---

[Sighting](https://simonwillison.net/elsewhere/sighting/) 2:16 PM — California Brown Pelican, in San Mateo County, CA, US

[![California Brown Pelican](https://static.inaturalist.org/photos/733368932/large.jpg)](https://static.inaturalist.org/photos/733368932/large.jpg)

[California Brown Pelican](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/399708714 "View observation on iNaturalist")

[![California Brown Pelican](https://static.inaturalist.org/photos/733368989/large.jpg)](https://static.inaturalist.org/photos/733368989/large.jpg)

[California Brown Pelican](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/399708714 "View observation on iNaturalist")

The [Pacifica Pier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacifica_Pier) shut down at the start of June after a crack in the concrete walkway made access to the pier unsafe.

It has since been entirely taken over by pelicans!