At 4:45 this evening I observed an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN while parked along
the main north south road at Floyd Bennett field in Brooklyn(Kings County).
I was admiring the brilliant sunset when I noticed a giant silhouette
surrounded by gulls circling slowly to the west. Initially thinking eagle, when
I got my bins up I immediately knew "pelican".
Although the bird was back lit, I could still make out the black wing tips and
gigantic yellow bill. The bird was flapping and circling over Dead Horse Bay
slowly gaining altitude. As it got higher it drifted toward the northeast,
still circling but now in a full soar, no longer flapping. At one point it was
almost directly over me and I could see well the black and white pattern of the
under wing. As it got a little further east it stopped circling and started
gliding quickly ESE losing altitude but gaining speed at the same time. Within
a minute I had lost sight of it altogether. I was able to watch it for almost
10 minutes before it disappeared.
It was headed in the direction of the Rockaways, though at the height it
started it's glide I wouldn't be surprised if it made it over the county line
into Nassau. South Oyster Bay perhaps? Or a u-turn to JBWR? Or perhaps even
further east...
There have been several reports over the last 10 days of this species:
Dec. 28- 5 reported flying over near Westport CT
Dec. 29- 5 reported flying over near Charlestown RI
Dec. 29 - 1 in Seatucket Harbor (actually not sure if it was on the water or
flying) during the Smithtown NY CBC
Jan. 1 - 1 near Hammonasset MA
Jan. 2-3 - 1 off Chaffinch Island Park Guilford MA
Jan. 5 - 1 near Fort Getty Jamestown RI (there is a link to photos of this
bird on the RI
listserve)
Have the original 5 split up? How many of these guys are wandering around the
Northeast?
Only other bird of note today was the continuing 1st winter male HARLEQUIN DUCK
off of Fort Tilden. He was 2 jetties to the east of the Silver Gull Club.
Happy New Year and see you afield,
Shane Blodgett
Brooklyn NY
--
NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html
2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html
3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/
--
