Unusual Lighting

Captured this on a trip to florida. As I was walking I saw a Pelican staring at me at the corner of his eye. I decided to stand still for a while to get some shots in. Then the lighting changed to what you see here. What impressed me was the fact that he was completely lit by the sun but because of the surrounding trees the lake behind him was almost in pitch darkness. He was Spotlighted which rarely happens in nature. It helped bring out so much detail in its "skin"? Can't say I planned this but it was at the right place at the right time.