White Pelican rescue on Little Bird Key: 12-30-18

Edie and Matt along with Kim and Dave Kandz spotted this White Pelican alone on Little Bird Key (in the Pinellas NWR).  This was not a “normal” place to see a lone pelican and on closer inspection they noted it looked to be in trouble floundering around on the ground.

Little Bird Key

Upon closer inspection the problem was obvious.

Monofilament fishing line was wrapped around both wings and then a trailing piece about 20 feet long was entangled around a mangrove branch that was embedded in the beach sand.

We went ashore and after Captain Dave Howard secured the bird and covered its head to minimize its awareness of our presence and our efforts to remove the line.  

After removing all the line and deciding that the bird looked healthy enough to release, we removed the towel from its head.  It made a lunging stab at me with its huge bill before running rapidly to the other side of the island, flapping both wings freely and plunging into the water.

 Dave Kandz took this picture of “our” bird as it paddled away.

It was a very good day for us as well as the bird!

Bathing Palm Warbler and Brown Thrasher in our pond

Handsome Palm Warbler

Bathing in our pond

Drinking

These warblers forage on the ground much more than other warblers, sometimes flying to catch insects on the wing.

Brown Thrasher on the seawall among mangrove drop roots

After bathing in the pond it hid in the mangroves for preening duties.

They are one of our favorite birds!

Savannah NWR, SC: 12-18-18

Handsome Red-shouldered Hawk

Although the American Crow often mobs these hawks, sometimes the relationship is not so one-sided.  They may chase each other and try to steal food from each other.

Red-shouldered Hawks tend to return to the same nesting territory year after year.

They are year-round residents in the Southeast

Hooded Mergansers (Female on the right)

They are the smallest of the three species of mergansers found in North America.

A feeding Northern Shoveler duck on the left, male in the middle and a Common Moorhen on the right

American Coot (back left); Common Gallinule (formerly Common Moorhen); Male Northern Shoveler (right)

The shovelers are often referred to as the “Spoonbill” or “Spoony” because of their unique spatulate shaped bill, which has about 110 fine projections (called lamellae) along the edges, for straining food from the water.

Interesting “pair” (Male Common Goldeneye on the left and a female Bufflehead duck on the right)

Sunrise & Ft Desoto birds: 12-27-18

Sunrise over Tampa Bay on way to Ft Desoto

Tricolored Heron with a shrimp for breakfast

Snowy Egrets forging along the shoreline

This part of the beach is for the birds

Ring-billed Gull, aptly named

These gulls are sometimes called the “fast food gulls” because they often hang around fast food restaurants scavenging for food.  On the beach they pretty much eat anything they catch.

Lots of birds, mainly gulls, on Outback Key today

Starling Tree

American White Pelicans off our seawall: 12-26-18

One joining two others

Unlike their Brown Pelican cousins who dive for their food, White Pelicans (as well as all other species of pelicans) dip their heads into the water and scoop their prey into their cavernous pouch.

When they catch a fish they throw their head back and swallow it whole and headfirst. 

These are large birds that can weigh up to 30 pounds 

Their wing spans can exceed 9 feet

They are winter visitors in our area