[MDOsprey] White Pelican
Robert Ringler (ringler@cct.infi.net)
Sat, 21 Aug 1999 14:54:20 -0700
The White Pelican on the Potomac River was present this morning,
August 21. I watched it standing and preening on the log in the middle
of the river from shortly after 10AM for about two hours. Your guess is
as good as mine whether the log is in DC or not. My vantage point was
the Harborside Yacht Club, approximately where Wilkes St would intersect
the river in Alexandria.
Shortly after noon the bird moved into the river and upstream.
Between 1210 and 1215 it took off, circling and gaining altitude. It
joined two Turkey Vultures in a thermal over the Maryland shore and
continued upward until it was barely more than a speck and I could hardly
discern that it was a white bird. It then broke off in a long slow glide
heading roughly SW, crossing the river and descending slightly to a point
approximately at the mouth of Hunting Creek. It circled again before
continuing on to the SW and I lost sight of it behind buildings at 1225.
I did not stay to see if it returned.
Perhaps it may show up again or perhaps it may be downriver
somewhere. I urge people to continue looking.
Bob Ringler