yes that is a Dovekie. Not sure whats up with the bill... overgrowth or possible deformity. Dovekies in that close, especially on shore, usually are very ill.
https://ebird.org/map/brnpel?neg=true&env.minX=-74.72675131250003&env.minY=40.29736618707366&env.maxX=-73.23261068750003&env.maxY=41.09594392699658&zh=true&gp=false&ev=Z&mr=on&bmo=11&emo=12&yr=cur&byr=2019&eyr=2019
Not saying anything about this particular bird ID since we do not have much to go on. Just stating that Brown Pelican should not be thrown out based on location alone as there have been many sightings in the general area in NOV/DEC of this year alone and more if you zoom out to include the NJ coast(not that far from Rockaway as the Pelican flies)
First off... there was no date given on the sighting. Secondly while not common... sightings have been increasing late into Nov and Dec . There are quite a few records of flocks of more than one as well, although most are single birds.
Well kind of... today this bird certainly will not look exactly like it does in this pic. It could be at some stage of molting into full adult plumage... so somewhere between the full juvenile and full adult plumage.