Jeremy's Birds (and More)

And now for something completely different! American White Pelican. Having nearly exhausted my present supply of "blackbird" pics, I decided to go to the other side of the spectrum. I took these shots yesterday. I had seen some pelicans in a pond near Home Depot and went back to get some shots. As I approached the pelican flew to the other side of the lake. I meandered through residential streets trying to find a place where I could get a shot or two. Along the way I picked up several shots of other birds (including the yellow-headed blackbird posted yesterday). Finally I found a small trail down the center of an isthmus between Bowles reservoir and Marston Lake. Soon I found out that the isthmus was actually a small bird refuge. Birds were everywhere, (you'll see several over the coming days)! BUT they had the trail gated shut so as not to disturb nesting pelicans and herons. Well as I was cursing my luck to be so close yet so far away. This pelican flew across the lake...

Black with more Splash! Yellow-Headed Blackbird: Well as the name implies, the male (on top) is a very difficult bird to identify (if you can't recognize this one, just give up now.) I think it is a female below, though it could be an imature first year male as well, either way I know they are both yellow-headed blackbirds. The male is one of my favorite birds. I love the bright color. 

Black with Splash! Red-Winged Blackbird: staying with the "blackbird" theme we have the red-winged blackbird (male on top, female on bottom) The male is obviously easy to recognize, though often when perching you can only see the yellow patch on the wing. The female looks somewhat like a meadowlark, I only identified it because it was "flirting" with the male redwing!