Chirps and Cheeps

Yesterday, after I returned from Tifft, I learned the American White Pelican was still there. How could I have missed it?! It's white and I read it's quite large... So, late in the day, after a big argument with myself, the birder side of me won out and she coerced me to get back in our car and take off in pursuit of this phantom Pelican.

An hour hike around what I THOUGHT was Lisa's Pond, turned up nil.  Disappointed, tired, and hungry, I headed back. However, as I passed another birder, I asked him if he had seen the Pelican. Sure enough he had and he kindly gave me directions to an entirely different pond, the REAL Lisa's Pond!  My aching feet complained but complied and got me over to the North Blind where, sure enough, there he was - the American White Pelican - a real beauty! How odd to see a Pelican in these parts! Apparently, the orange horn on his upper bill indicates that he's a male. These are one of the largest birds on our continent with wingspans measuring up to 3 meters!

While I was viewing the pelican, I enjoyed sharing some observations and recent sightings with some other birders who had gathered there - and even got a few photographic tips from John Barton! Thanks, John!

I'm so happy to have finally had some wonderful views of this magnificent creature, and hope he makes it to his breeding ground in Canada.

Oh, and on my way out, I got my THIRD life list bird of the day! A Black-crowned Night-Heron was fishing far across the main pond and I managed to get a few photos. I was able to ID him from the photos later, after I got home.  All in all, it was a very tiring but hugely rewarding day!

Also seen on this trip: , Eastern Phoebe, Yellow Warber, Northern Cardinal, Wood Duck, Canada Goose, Great Blue Heron, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Osprey, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, American Robin, American Crow, Dark-eyed Junco, Tufted Titmouse, Black-capped Chickadee, American Goldfinch, Gray Catbird, Ring-billed Gull