Chirps and Cheeps

Early Sunday morning, I drove out to INWR to find the previously reported American White Pelican.  He was there - big orange feet, huge yellow bill and all! The pelican is a large, heavy bird (up to 30 pounds!) and was very easy to spot - even at the great distance he was at - waaaaay out in the furthest pool amongst many, many Great Egrets.

The American White Pelican has black primaries that I didn't notice until he had taken flight. This particular bird was an immature bird as he had a dusky cap on his head and no "centerboard" on the ridge of his bill (only seen in breeding season).  I saw only one American White Pelican in the WNY area before and that was at Tifft Nature Preserve last June (Tifft Part Deux and a White Pelican).

Unlike the Brown Pelican, this pelican will scoop up fish while he's swimming instead of diving down to get them from the air - and they'll often fish in groups.  When he's caught some fish, he points his bill downward, allowing the water to drain (his bill can hold up to 3 gallons of water!). He'll then tip his head back and swallow his catch!

Shortly after I left the overlook, I saw the pelican fly overhead. I heard that he returned to the same location later on, though.

I did more hiking around the preserve and was treated to some nice sights: Bald Eagles, several Black Terns, a Caspian Tern, a very boisterous and busy Red-head Woodpecker, a Blue-winged Warbler, several flycatchers, more Great Blue Herons than I've ever seen in one day, many, many Great Egrets, a Veery, and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, to name a few.  At one spot, little Green Frogs were everywhere!  I had to step gingerly to avoid hurting any as they leaped away in every direction with each step.

I also took a little time to look closer at some butterflies and dragonflies.  I don't have them all ID'd yet, but I'm working on it! They sure are pretty when you look at them closely.