Birded Blackwater NWR Wildlife Drive yesterday in the afternoon. There were a lot of walkers and bikers. Since I haven't see the American Pelican reported recently, I thought I'd let everyone know we saw it from the new improved dyke looking a bit southeast at about where the #11 is on this map:

http://www.fws.gov/blackwater/pdf/BLK_Wildlife_Drive_8-08.pdf

It was resting/sleeping on a sandbar with about 15 Tundra Swan, 5 Greater Yellowlegs, and lots of Ring-billed Gull. When we first saw it (at about #10 on the map) it was resting/sleeping right next to a Tundra Swan. Even from the distance and in the light, we were able to discern a difference between the two large white lumps were were viewing. The pelican appeared much whiter than the swan. We moved around to #11 for a better look and eventually was rewarded when the pelican raised its head. We were able to give another birder her first look at a pelican through the scope.

Blackwater NWR--Wildlife Drive, Dorchester, US-MD
Nov 26, 2011 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
5.0 mile(s)
Comments:   Birded Wildlife Drive.
25 species

Canada Goose  500
Tundra Swan  15
American Black Duck  2
Mallard  100
Northern Shoveler  4
Northern Pintail  18
American White Pelican  1
Great Blue Heron  5
Bald Eagle  7
American Kestrel  1
American Coot  2
Killdeer  11
Greater Yellowlegs  13
Ring-billed Gull  55
Herring Gull  1
Forster's Tern  13     winter plummage, medium-sized , white forehead with black 
eyemask, forked tail, pale grey upperparts and white underparts
Downy Woodpecker  1
Blue Jay  1
American Crow  45
Carolina Chickadee  1
Savannah Sparrow  3
Song Sparrow  2
White-throated Sparrow  1
Northern Cardinal  3
Red-winged Blackbird  300

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Marcy Stutzman
Russett, MD


############################

To unsubscribe from the MDOSPREY list:
write to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
or click the following link:
http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=MDOSPREY&A=1