Folly Beach

Beautiful clean beach! Calm waves and pretty hotels and restaurants along the beach make the entire experience pleasing! Difficult to find parking during peak seasons, but plenty of paid street parking available.

Three generations of our family have enjoyed this beach many times. The local community is outstanding! A laid-back, home beach town vibe. Soak up the warm, healthy Atlantic ocean waters along with the warmhearted southern hospitality. After the Sun goes down, take in the relaxing open-air live music, local restaurants and shops! Savor a special, easy-going, laid-back, low-key, unpretentious, summer celebration atmosphere! Seafood caught fresh off the coast. Or maybe caught by you from the East Coast's second largest fishing pier. Drive slow, with your windows and hair down, or saunter through the shops and prepare to attend an outdoor concert. Always schedule to stay a week rather than a weekend. There's simply too much dynamic surf, dolphin spotting, miles of sandy shores and the calm Folly River to experience. When you return home, keep your secret getaway at the "Edge of America" hush-hush so as to keep your genuine coastal escape exactly that!

This beach is so clean and beautiful! Parking is only $5 at the pier during the winter months.

The beach is nice and a good pier for fishing. However, when we went there were trashes a long the beach and we tried to help pick up some bottles. Hope tourists and locals will hand in hand to preserve this place.

I had a great time here in the peace and quiet of the sea. It was a well relaxing time allowing the sea breeze to refresh my spirit. The beach on this day wasn't too packed. Both paid and street parking, though a little difficult to find one readily.

Folly Beach has more of a tourist vibe compared to other South Carolina beaches, but that’s part of the charm. It’s a lively, walkable area filled with restaurants, bars, and shops all within a few blocks of the shore. The beach itself is wide and scenic, but it definitely draws a crowd, so expect more people, especially during peak times. You’ll need to pay for parking, and spots can fill up quickly, so plan ahead. Still, it’s a great beach day option if you’re looking to pair sand and sun with good eats and drinks just steps away. Perfect for groups or solo adventurers who enjoy a bit more energy and convenience.

Good view and relaxing. You can rent the beach chairs & umbrellas for a fee here. Very convenient. Very clean. Find some seashells! Try some food and ice cream in the surrounding area too. They are good. The places are mostly cozy. There is also an arcade game place. No alcohol at the beach. Definitely will come back again!

Hubby turned 77 on his birthday. He had never been to the Ocean. Had a wonderful time!

Love Folly Beach! My family goes here every summer to enjoy the cool vibes. Folly Beach is Charleston's laid-back beach which attracts locals, surfers, and tourists. Love it better in the early morning before the crowd gets there in the afternoon. The sand and swimming are great although there are warnings for riptides. Great place to watch sunrise! Paid parking is on street by using an app or you can find free parking along the side streets.

https://youtu.be/EPDdvn34Nfg?si=m9am4S095qF7fTOa Real pretty but the water is kind of brown now

Somewhat crowded beach. The fishing pier closes at sunset, as well as some of the gift shops. Plenty of restaurants to eat at nearby, but most everything is paid parking. 2024 #12

I love this beach! It is perfect for bringing the family to for the day. The beach is always clean and the streets are well maintained. The town has a couple of cute restaurants and shops down the Main Street when you need a break from the sun. I love that Folly still has small town beach vibes. The only negative I have is that traffic gets really bad during peak times since there is only one way on and off the island. But if you go early before 9 you can avoid a lot of the traffic. Definitely worth a trip if you're looking for a small beach vacation!

Really pretty beach in SC. It's longgg so you could get a nice walk in. There's also a recently renovated pier with shops and a restaurant. Parking in the residential area and it's a quick walk to the actual beach. Came during the winter and was still beautiful to see. Would love to swim here in the summer.

Decent beach on the East coast. Went in late May, wasn't too crowded, weather was warm but still had chilly winds from the sea. Lots of paid parking but limited free two hour street parking. They have a really nice pier that stretches pretty far into the ocean. They offer plenty of covered and uncovered seating, dining and fishing on the pier.

Just a beach. Nothing special. The pier is free and closes at sunset. Small restrooms but clean.

Beautiful beach. Not too crowded. As usual, parking is a challenge. Love the beach, especially pier 101.

I like Folly Beach. I like its name. It's my least favorite of the 3 beaches in the area with Sullivan's Island being my favorite and Isle of Palms next, and FB coming in 3rd. FB, to me, is the most commercialized of the 3 beaches. It's a pretty beach, and clean, as all 3 are! I just prefer the more holey feel of Sullivan's Island. As others mentioned, do abide by the poster rules, which the authorities are good about making signs abundantly noticeable. And most of all enjoy yourself!

Really 3.5 stars, when living in Charleston SC and working at MUSC. Folks I'd meet in the area would always say go to Folly Beach, it's the natives favorite beach. Well honestly, I am from Oregon (coast) a native, and my first thought was it's so flat, and my God people are neck and neck. It was known for its, young wild and free beach parties! Haha, we have all been there, and yes they get out of hand. Some call it the family beach. All I know is water has always called me, and to walk a beach and get lost in the sounds, vision of waves, seabirds, and to pick up shells. It was my mental release. Haha I have a huge fish bowl of shells. Yes, off times less folks. Fun shops, good food! Dog friendly.

A fine yellow-grey sand beach with little in the way of rocks or shells to pick, a lot of people go here for the pier or for the family friendly nature of the sand and even slope ot the water. Parking is expensive ($20-25 close to the pier) and they still wanted to charge me on a very rainy day so I'm not particularly excited about that. Smaller lots periodically along the beach road along East Arctic Rd (ironic naming?) that were still full despite the rainy day. Also leaving the area was a nightmare in terms of traffic. Not a fan of the exit traffic, they need to put up some all way stop signs or lights. Lots of small shops and food trucks in different areas.

I vacationed here around 20 years ago with all my college roommates and high school friends one summer and we stayed in a large old beach house to save money bc we couldn't afford to actually stay in Charleston. Yesterday my husband and I, now staying in Charleston thank goodness, drove back bc he had never been. It's funny, it looks exactly the same as it did 20 years ago. There is a single large hotel and some restaurants and shops on the Center street area. Mostly cheap beach stores with touristy items - there are a few coffee shops and restaurants worth trying. The best part for me was the lighthouse inlet at the tip of the island which we visited this time and walked for an hour or so. Folly isn't really my type of beach.

The folly pier renovation just finished so you can enjoy strolls on the pier. However the day I went there was a county park attendant of some sort that stopped my friend and I from going because the "sun just set" so was confused over that despite seeing many others enjoying the pier. Oh well, walked on the beach instead. The parking I found years ago was ample as long as you arrived early and made sure the tires didn't touch the pavement.

Beautiful beach along the South Carolina coastline, another of the Carolina barrier islands. It's stunning and a fabulous spot for sunshine. Compared to other beaches I've visited this week between Myrtle Beach and Beaufort, the sand is a little less firm and the water gets deeper sooner here compared to elsewhere. There wasn't much of a riptide today with a bunch of people walking along the beach. Of course, if you're this far down onto the coast, don't miss the walk to the Morris Island Lighthouse! [Review 19466 overall - 1039 in South Carolina - 436 of 2023.]

February at Folly Beach: It was 85 degrees out, sunny and my kids played in the water! The beach was open. Plenty of space to run and play. Plenty of parking and it was all done through parking apps- easy! Clean beach. Water up to our ankles for a while. Beautiful rippled sand under the water. Bathroom available (think upscale porta-potties.) Cute little beachy area. I come from the Ocean state so I know how these town are. Wish it had a little more to offer. We actually left town to get dessert. Glad we took the kids to the beach in February!

This beach is beautiful and very clean. Parking was a task to find but they had options to pay via your phone. There were restrooms within walking distance but some of the streets do not have sidewalks. There are definitely a lot of shopping and restaurants in the area as well.

One of the best beaches in the country! The beach itself is clean and very family experience! Kids playing and a great place for surf fishing! Great walk on the beach ! Very peaceful and clean! Parking can be a challenge but is available for free! examen des cols bleus:x

I've been to a few beaches in my day, but this was like most. Crowded, loud, active. Nothing wrong with that because everyone was nice and respectful! The beach was pretty clean! I loved that they had good clean public bathrooms. There was a couple places to rent beach chairs and umbrellas! Loved that. It should be noted that SC had a no alcohol law for their public beaches. Anyone drinking can be fined a hefty amount. So don't bring booze. Just head over to the nearby bars and drink there, then come back.

Ewe ewe ewe ewe ewe ewe ewe ewe ewe ewe ewe ewe ewe ewe ewe ewe ewe is a very important thing in the history of our society and we are not just a bunch of people who are not in the same place but also have different views on the same thing and we are all different people and we are not the same person we are different people we

Went with my dog. Cops have nothing to do but bully the public. Starting to turn into Charleston own little Myrtle Beach :(. I have heard that it has always been more run down than other Charleston beaches, I just didn't believe it. They give parking tickets in a parking area that is inaccessible to the beach. Rick is piled 6-8' high to climb down onto the beach. Both to let's I have gotten I have visibly seen the parking police the entire time... and they still give me a ticket. Probably bc they don't want to walk down the inaccessible beach "access"

We came down last year for my son's birthday, and he enjoyed it so much he wanted to come back again. Even though it's January and cold, it's still a really nice beach to walk around and collect shells and things. Both last year and this year he found whole sand dollars, and starfish. It's just a beautiful clean beach. The bathrooms are also really clean and nice too!

Folly Beach is by far the best beach I have been to! It's very family oriented and not as touristy as other beaches I have visited. I love the natural sea grass break before you get to the houses it has a beach on one side of the island and a marsh on the other side. It has mostly houses for rent, which gives privacy not afforded in a hotel/condo. An added bonus is that it is less than 30 minutes from Charleston, and who doesn't love Charleston! It's a little, quiet paradise!

Clean beach that's not overly packed. Parking is a tough situation but we got there early enough to find parking near the 4th street stairs.

Beautiful! Clean, quiet Sunrise at Folly Beach, far from Dayton OH... Highly suggested!

Love Folly Beach The good thing about Folly for me is going in early to avoid the craziness of the traffic. Pro tip: Download the parking app. It so easy to use and saves you so much time and its so hassle-free Dogs are allowed on the beach on a leash at all times. In the summertime, dogs need to be out of the bach by 10 am Depending on where you're in folly there are spots surfboards are only allowed in certain locations after 10 am in the summer. My husband, my dog love the WashOut area.

Love Folly! Great eclectic scene all year long. I tend to avoid during tourist season as parking is expensive! If I want a simple beach scene without all the yaya I'd go down to the county park.

I've heard so much about this beach, I thought it's about damn time I go and check it out. Well, went on a wrong day... Given that I went on a Labor Day weekend, it was a zoo! Parking was near impossible as all lots were full, and they charge you $30! Since I came only to check out the beach (not to sunbathe, per say!), I actually just swung in and out very quickly, and avoided paying the high parking fee. Basically I risked getting my car towed by walking to the beach to check out the scene...if only for a moment! Well, the beach scene was much more expansive...lotsa colorful rental umbrellas...and overall, much nicer than the one at Edisto Beach, and maybe even Myrtle Beach. Think I remember liking the Hilton Head Beach more though. Luckily, the sand here seemed a bit smoother, lighter in color as well...but I did see some patchy, shelly areas. The worst part was that the place was PACKED!!! I couldn't have stayed another minute...as there were WAY too many people! I couldn't wait to drive out of there as fast as possible. Still, am thinking I'll return (with my family next time?) on a normal, non-holiday beach day...and hopefully, I'll like the beach better then?

My family and I had a great time at this beach in the morning. Surprise! Parking at the pier is $10, but across the street is $20-25. So weird. The pier is really pretty, although when we were there they were doing construction so we couldn't walk on it. There are weird changing stations under the pier that are pitch black and showers, but bathrooms are all the way upstairs. lol. We rented chairs and umbrellas for 4 for $100- I forget the name of the company. Steep price, but worth it for those with fair skin who would fry in the sun. Also worth it to not have to drag all that stuff to the beach, not that it's a super far walk. A man looked like he was seizing but I think it was diabetes- related. The lifeguards jumped to action right away and handled it well while awaiting the ambulance. No idiots were taking pics or anything which was nice to see. This was a nice beach, not spectacular water but hey it's SC, what can you do? Us Floridians are spoiled. :)

The peace and serenity I needed before heading back to snow in Buffalo at the end of April. The temp was high 70s/low 80s when we went and it was absolutely perfect. So perfect that I didn't even realize my knees were sizzling, haha. There are beach chairs and umbrellas sprinkled about the beach that you can snag which is really nice. The sand is soft and smooth. The range of the tide is massive (at least it was for me! It's not like that in Western New York's beaches), so a good quarter of the beach is packed down sand from when the tide is high. We went hunting for shells to bring home and found lots of fun treasures, including dried coral which we thought was cool! A handful of jellyfish washed ashore as well. We went on a Monday and it wasn't crazy crowded, but full. HUGEEEE warning though: we did not rent a car for our long weekend and that is my biggest Charleston trip regret. As of right now, they have limited Uber and Lyft drivers and it was a serious challenge for us to get back into the Historic district after our day at the beach. We literally walked along a highway for a good 45 minutes before finally catching a Lyft driver for over $50. Parking isn't great over there either, but I'd rather have a car than just my feet for getting around. Truly, truly, cannot wait to come back, next time with my boys who are going to love it!

This is a cool beach with nice people and the right waves. Parking was not an issue as we were able to find a spot where we were in walking distance. We set up on the sand to chill while jumping in the water from time to time. The locals at the beach are friendly so striking up conversation was very easy and natural. Be careful with beverages. They will give a citation if you consume alcohol openly. Just make sure they are covered or not in the open and you'll be good to go. We saw some people get in trouble for that. Obviously a buzz kill when you're trying to have a good time.

Nice beach, clean. The live guards are doing a good job keeping people people in the swimming area. I also saw a girl being taken out to sea by a rip tide and the life guards do a good job and brought the girl back to shore

After this trip to Folly Beach I've realized once was enough for me. Some cool restaurants, some good beaches and interesting sights like the lighthouse. The fees to park now are ridiculous, but with limited parking options they can get away with it. Come and see it. Get a drink and a taco and then get out.

I love the beach at Folly, just not the summertime crowd. Tons of great local businesses (Bert's and Chico Feo being my favorites). I've enjoyed finding lots of sharks teeth when I go for walks, and the waves are definitely better over here than Isle of Palm.

I love going to folly beach! Parking can sometimes be difficult in the busy season, but you can occasionally find free parking on center street or some side streets - otherwise there are pay to park lots. The beach is gorgeous, with a freshly renovated pier that just re-opened! I love to go out when the tide is going out to see what sea treasures are left behind. Great spot to look for shark teeth- I found 23 while out there today!!

A couple weekends ago when it was still chilly, my dog friend and I went exploring some of the less populated parts of Folly Beach. The place felt like a forgotten cool beach town, just a handful of people walking on the sidewalks by dimly lit cafes and a co-op. The neighborhoods feel homey. The beach felt like a wildlife refuge which of course we loved. Maybe we went during it's off season, but I recommend Folly Beach in October if you're wanting to really escape to a cool uninhabited sort of feeling of a beach.

Our family loved Folly beach. We went on a week day in November and the weather was chilly but good. My son loved all the tide pools and seeing the starfish and crabs. The beach was clean and beautiful. We will be going back!

A really crowded beach. By 10am it's pretty well packed. Parking is easy though and convenient.

Folly Beach is my favorite place to be. I have been living in Charleston, SC for over 20 years. I have found that Folly Beach is my zen zone. It is so incredibly peaceful out here. I love hearing the waves crash along the shore. I love the taste of salt in the air. I love the feeling of the sand beneath my toes. I love the smell of sun tan lotion. I love seeing the clear horizon where the sea meets the sky. I mostly come out here to tan these days. I also go for walks sometimes. I meditate out here too. I take lots of naps on Folly Beach. It's also a great place to swim. Watch out for the currents though. Do not swim out by the lighthouse. That area has bad rip currents. The closer you get to the pier, the closer you are to everything else. You will be closer to all the businesses. You will also be closer to a larger crowd of people. I personally like to park far away from the pier to get away from the majority of the people. I park somewhere between 5th street and the lighthouse, away from everything. I always venture to the East side of Folly Beach. I have tried out the West side but I find parking is more difficult over there. I usually only go that way if I'm headed to the park, and that is very rare. Folly Beach was closed for a while during the Coronavirus pandemic. It is open again now and has been for the past couple of months. I don't notice much of a change due to COVID. If you go into a business on Folly Beach, be prepared to wear a mask to enter. If you're out on the sand, no need for a mask. Everything seems somewhat normal when I'm laying on the sand at Folly Beach. We all know 2020 is not normal however. This has been one crazy year. I am thankful that I have had Folly Beach to go to this summer. I was so worried at the beginning of summer that they would be closed all year! Thankfully, that was not the case. I have been able to come out to Folly Beach about twice a week for the majority of the summer. For that, I am grateful.

Parking is limited on this island, which is only a half hour by car from Charleston's downtown. It's even more limited during corona-time, so I was quite surprised to find ample spots available on a beautiful summer evening. You have to pay, and it says enforced until 10; there's not a lot of ways around it unless you have property here, but the cost was modest and it was well worth it. Driving on the island is somewhat infuriating due to the prevalence of golf carts which insist on driving on the main roads at half the speed limit and pedestrians who seem utterly oblivious to the surrounding world; the infrastructure could really use some separate paths for the various modes of transit (and surely all those parking fees would pay for it). The main beach had a mix of dark and light sand, with the wind blowing one across the other in dizzying patterns. At the north end of the beach there is an outlook where one can see the lighthouse, which it turns out is on its own little perch nowhere near the shore. The estuary was remarkably lively when I visited, with dolphins jumping out of the water only fifty feet or less from the shore. It must be a steep drop off. Even though I got kind of a lousy sunset, the quality of landscape and wildlife, being so accessible to a mid-sized city, is something quite uncommon and quite impressive.

Stopped at Folly Beach today. It was a beautiful day in the upper 70's. All other reviews will tell you how beautiful the beach is, and the all will be correct. My review is about the bathroom situation in the park area. Granted this was a warm day in November, the bathroom was exceptionally clean. You can tell by the picture the staff works hard to maintain the restroom. I would not hesitate to use this facility any time I am at the beach

Winter time and the living is easy! Folly Beach IS the quintessential beach town and a whole lotta laid back fun for the whole family. Unlike many beaches, Folly isn't over developed or over crowded. It's actually mainly residential, with a lot of the homes available for rent. Our big ol fam of 14 got to rent a great beach house and soak it all in. Coffee on the porch watching the surfers hit the washout. Oyster roasts and bbqs underneath on the deck. Cocktails at sunset. Absolutely perfect. There are a lot of great local bars and restaurants restaurants too. Depending where you are you might be able to walk, but golf carts are the preferred mode of transportation. If you've never been to Folly, make a plan!

I recently went to visit my mother in Lexington and she had us drive 2 1/2 hours here. I will say, it was a very nice beach! The temperature of the water was absolutely perfect and if it weren't for my sensitive eyes and contacts getting irritated from the salt water, I could have stayed in there for even longer! So comfy and refreshing in the heat. My son who is 14 stayed in there almost the whole time. Sitting on the beach was nice too. Everyone we came in contact with was polite and enjoying their day. One woman had money hanging out the butt of her bikini and that gave us a little giggle thinking about the poor soul who would be touching that money next... yuck! But she had lost her sandals and towel and was also very nice, just trying to find her stuff (hope she found it ... and hope she washed that money with soap! Lol). Probably my only complaint is that there was only 2 hour parking. We parked on the street. Now, I didn't see the sign myself but I wasn't paying any attention. My mom said she saw the sign so we had to leave after 2 hours. It took us longer to get there then we could stay! Otherwise, nice beach!!

Parking is a probelm. Becareful, the city does not post signs in many areas. We along with 7 other vehicles in a row got a parking ticket because we were not parked in someones nice yard vs. the street. There were no signs or warings and the city clearly knows it. We were advised to read Folly Beach ordinance 72.06 - what! you can't be serious. Clearly they practice ticketing and make money off unsuspecting vacationers. So becareful. There are many other rules and they'd love to take your money.

Not much of a beach fan but I really enjoyed this beach. 85* of pure SC heat and humidity but enjoyed it at the beach. We arrived at 11am, parking can be tricky but we found parking quickly. Parking is $2 per hour and payable thru passport app. You can also add money if you need to extend you time just with a click. As a West Coast girl, I'm used to the cold water in the Pacific Ocean and was expecting the same at Folly Beach. The water was warm and clear. I loved it. We noticed there were a few umbrellas and chairs so we decided to rent them. For $39 you can rent for the whole day. The umbrellas came in handy when we had a quick downpour. I enjoyed the convenience to the pier, access to parking, clean and air conditioned bathrooms and the area to rinse off. Great little area to shop and dine.

Beautiful walk on the sandy beach. Absolutely great walk on bare feet. Parking sometimes tricky but normally not have any prob to find a spot, $2/hr onthe street, then if it's early in the morning, some free street parkings are not difficult to be found. My fav place for walking and playing with water.

As a San Diego kid I like to think that we have great beaches, which we do, but for me there is beauty to be found in most beach towns and Folly is no exception. Dotted with cute houses, local eateries, and a fairly laid back crowd, Folly Beach is my kind of a beach town. During my past two trips to Charleston we've made the short trek to the beach to let my buddy's dogs get some energy out. Both times we've kept them on the leash per the local rules while sipping coffee and looking for shark teeth that wash up on the sand. Hey, we actually found one! While I haven't found myself here in the middle of summer or not in a pandemic, I can only imagine that the awesome energy that surrounds Folly Beach is amplified during the busy times. I can't wait to experience that!

I've been coming to Folly Beach for some time over the last few yrs. Nice beach approx 30 mins from Charleston downtown. There isnt alot of parking, patience is the key in every beach town. I really like that its clean and peaceful, great way to relax and people watch. Normally dont get in to water that is not crystal clear for various reasons. The people from the Folly area seem very nice and hospitable. Also great place to support the locals and pick some local favorites to take back home. Lots of condos and rentals close in proximity to rent, I normally use booking.com for my rentals. Im sure we will continue to visit Folly in the near future.

Must go to spot! We went on a quick anniversary trip to Charleston and this spot was recommended. We went for sunrise. It did not disappoint!

Folly Beach is Charleston's laid-back, fun beach- it's the "Edge of America" and attracts a lot of surfers, locals, and of course, tourists. If being home to one hotel and having a flashy "Welcome to Folly Beach" sign make this the most tourist-y beach out of the bunch, I'm A-OK with that. I've been to a few weddings here, run a couple of races, and practiced yoga on the beach It's very safe and offers something for all. A few Folly Beach tips: You won't find metered parking, and lots have boxes you pay, although the county park has a gate attendant. Parking isn't cheap, especially on the weekends, so carpool if you can and plan to stay awhile and keep the car parked. Come early in the day or late in the day to beat crowds and traffic backups on Folly Road, and if it's a holiday... be prepared for a packed beach! If you want food at Folly, you're in luck with lots of options. Everywhere is pretty casual, and Taco Boy is one of my personal favorites. Folly Rd. has a few ice cream and bars with frozen drinks, because you can't beat something cold after a hot day in the sun. Like many in Charleston, I remember and miss the Folly Boat and its many paintings, along with the days when alcohol was allowed on the beach. Times change and traditions pass, but you can't beat a fun day at Folly.

FOLLY BEACH. For three years, I worked at the Marine Laboratory at Fort Johnson, on James Island, and my apartment was on Folly Beach. My apartment was on West Ashley Avenue, halfway between Folly Beach Country Park and Folly Beach Road. I had two roommates and one of them worked in my laboratory and the other worked at the nearby NOAA marine laboratory. My job was to study oyster immunology, and I got one publication out of my lab work (Tom Brody (1989) Release of zinc from leukocytes provoked by A23187 and EDTA is associated with the release of enzymes. Comp. Biochem. 94:693-697). One of my roommates was Bill Buzzi and, whenever he went out for a swim, he gave me a tiny whistle and said, "Tom, if you see a shark coming, just blow on the whistle." Bill Buzzi had a clever sense of humor. My devotion to Folly Beach did not involve swimming or surfing, but instead it took the form of photographing pelicans. From Folly Beach itself, I used a telephoto lens for taking photos of pelicans flying in formation (see, one photo), and of groups of pelicans flying in a line resembling a spring standing on its side. This was a line of pelicans flying in a spiraling formation, where line of pelicans ascended and ascended (this photo not posted here). CROSBY SEAFOOD LOCATION. I devoted a dozen photo sessions to taking photographs of pelicans on the dock at Crosby Seafood and also from the nearby bridge. This bridge connects Pea Island (to the north) to Oak Island (to the south). Regarding my color photographs, please see the VERY UNUSUAL PHOTO showing a pelican standing on a box with its beak open, where this pelican is biting down on the beak of a pelican flying directly overhead. VERY STRANGE. Pelicans have an unusual habit, which I've never seen in egrets, herons, or cormorants but, it is possible that these other birds do have that habit. Pelicans like to fling their beak towards the sky, so that the beak points directly upwards. What are they doing? Clearing their throat? I have no idea. BLACK & WHITE PHOTOS. Regarding my B & W photos, one of my photographs shows a pelican landing on a wooden post (post sticking out of the water near Crosby Seafood). In this photo, the pelican looks like an umbrella, because its body and head are concealed behind the wings, and all you can see of the pelican are its WINGS and its BEAK, where the beak sticks downwards like an umbrella's handle. Also, I have a series of eight B & W photographs, taken rapidly with a motor drive. This series shows a flying pelican trying to knock a standing pelican off of the wooden post. Attached is the first photo in the series of eight pictures, where the flying pelican initiates its aggressive behavior. The other B & W photos show hungry piggy-pelicans diving into a box of seafood scraps, sitting on the dock in back of Crosby Seafood. Yum-yum-yum ! Seafood scraps. Yum-yum-yum !