Identificaciones de missypelican

I spent the morning and early afternoon today on a boat cruising along Lake Austin on the west side of the city, between Tom Miller Dam and Mansfield Dam. Not a wildlife trip at all, just some friends on the lake in a boat. BUT, I took along a camera and took a few snapshots of birds I saw while on the trip. Most of the photos are marginal at best since taken from a moving boat, but thought I’d post the results.

wondering about the behavior I observed in this egret who appeared to be having some difficulty swallowing this prey which I think may be a catfish. It would get the fish up near its throat and then end up with it back at the tip of its bill, then it would take it and stick it down in the mud and try again. Is this a typical behavior? What purpose does it serve?