One year ago I posted American White Pelican photos taken on November 30. Turns out we had a repeat experience yesterday with my first AWPs of the season.

There were about 15 of the big birds, with a few Great Egrets sprinkled in between.

None of the birds were feeding, with the Pelicans just bobbing around.

Maybe they had already eaten or maybe the cold and high water made fish hard to find.

If we had arrived twenty minutes later we would have missed seeing them as first a few took off then the rest of the group lifted into the air. It still surprises me how gracefully and quietly they do this.

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 30, 2024