Is there a naturalist in the house?

[PearlSB4U]

Today on our beach walk we saw 5 flocks of pelicans of 20+, flying east into a strong wind.
Are they migrating? Are they following the coast down the peninsula?
There was a small flock of 5 contrarian pelicans, heading west; What's up with them?

 

[Shells]

brown pelicans migrate to a warmer area in the gulf. In the more colder months for fall and winter these brown pelicans fly in flocks to the warmer areas. Most of our pelicans in this northern Gulf Coast area, winter in places below the freeze line (Tampa or South). - local naturalist