american white pelican

American White Pelican

American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

One of our largest birds of any type, these huge pelicans gather down here in winter in groups of dozens, but you never know where you'll find them...they could show up in a local wetlands, or a golf course lake!

Pelican in shimmering waters.

Flock of Pelicans on lake.

Many off these around

American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) Nonbreeding plumage.

A friend of mine, who is a much more experienced birder, let me know that some pelicans were hanging out at Eagle Marsh. I went over with my BIL. We found them, and were able to get some good views. Neat birds!

There were probably a couple hundred or more of these pelicans at this marsh. One or two or a few would take off and then start circling and climbing as more joined them before departing towards the north.

A few moments after the other photo--Everybody down! Of course, there are always a few that don't get with the program.

While I was observing, the pelicans would periodically form large mobs (like the group in the foreground) and cruise as one around the marsh and in unison would Rhythmically dip their heads under water and then lift them repeatedly.

Not sure what this fellow was doing with his distended bill pouch. The "blades" on the bills of the other breeding males are quite apparent. This is an unusual bird to see in this area (NE corner of Illinois) except during migration. The lighting was poor with light rain.

You might know, two days before we moved the pelicans moved closer to our house for pics. I'd been watching them for a week but they were always too far out on the lake.

A very long distance away, but you can see them. A gull was taking off and dropped a small fish. At the same time a nearby pelican decided to grab the fish as it hit the water resulting in this image. The gull took off just fine.

Group of White Pelicans with mixed in Ring-Billed Gulls, Great-Blue Herons

Sunning after a meal.

It looks even more "out of place" when seen against the dry hills across the river, but I assure you, there was a sizable river just below.

Not what we expected to see so far inland, but the Snake River was down below.

Looking for a meal.

This photo was taken at a pond on the north end of Big Talbot Island State Park known locally as "Spoonbill Pond". I went there specifically to get some shots of these guys and the Roseate Spoonbills. These birds are the second largest in the U.S. with an 8-9 foot wing span.

A national park on Sanibel Island

Just about to set down on a Sanibel sandbar.