Pic of the Day

Great White Pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus:

Ding Darling NWR; Sanibel Island, Florida

Great White Pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus:

Ding Darling NWR; Sanibel Island, Florida

Great White Pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus; with 

American White Pelicans, Pelecanus erthrorhynchos

Ding Darling NWR; Sanibel Island, Florida

     On February 28, I arrived at Ding Darling NWR to photograph birds, and discovered that a Great White Pelican had arrived the same day.   The Great White Pelican breeds from southeastern Europe through Asia, and in Africa in swamps and shallow lakes.  As you can image the bird was making quite a splash (pun unintended, but works).

     At this date, a month later, I have not heard anything about the origin of the bird, but it did not have any bands.  The above images were taken on February 28, as the pelican rested on a sandbar.  The close-ups are heavily cropped.  By the way, when I arrived there were many, many birders observing this bird.  It was seen by a ton of people.