“When least expected, nature will give you the a bird.” Anonymous, attributed to ancient proverb.
When we last left off, your intrepid and “underprepared for the wind chill” BirdingPI.com reporter was at the top of the South Pier ramp (above), waiting it out for a glimpse of the Brown Pelican seen at this location. [Editor’s note: the ramp transitions from the main section of South Pier to the lower, east end of South Pier, frequently used by human fisherfolk when conditions are better.] Just about to call it a day when it arose from the sea of gulls, the immature Pelican, shaking its wings and engaging in preening behaviour:
Even a ray or two of sunshine – almost a nature miracle.
Visual ID plus preening would have been “great enough,” but the gulls soon startled, taking flight, the pelican among them. A lucky occurrence for sure.
Coming up soon, more PIF, plus pelican bathing, and more pelican preening!
BRAVO, Team Leader! What fantastic shots! The pelican’s fan base (gulls) just had to fly away, leaving it to fend for itself, and give you the opportunity to get those shots!
Just happy to see it. Brown Pelicans very common in some locations (e.g., southern California, Florida), but very uncommon here in Erie. This was a “first ever in Erie” for BirdingPI.com.
To the patient come the rewards!
More like “to those willing to suffer Erie winter weather come the rewards.”