A Day of Sunshine: February 6, 2015

It’s time for something old and something (a little closer to) new.

Pelicans, like other birds, begin developing breeding plumage long before they breed. January/February is when I think the pelicans look their best. Their breeding horns are noticeable, but they aren’t huge. Their dark eyes are lightening as the color slowly changes to blue. The plumes on their heads are getting just long enough to have a nice “Crazy Harry” appearance, especially when the wind is blowing.

Image of Crazy Harry from muppet.wikia.com

I suspect that more than a few pelicans have Crazy Harry tendencies beyond the hair.
(Image from muppet.wikia.com)

I think that the pelicans look their ugliest in March, although they are probably super sexy to each other. Their horns are huge. Their breeding plumes have grown so long that they look like unkempt hair that desperately needs a trim (and in the fall, I’m always shocked by their lack of breeding plumes; they look as though their heads have been shaved). Their eyes are light blue, which looks nice with the orange-red of their feet and portions of their pouches, but they also develop ugly black streaks on their bills, gular pouches, and around the contours of their faces.

Here are some pics from mid- and late-March 2014 that show off pelican breeding plumage.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) in breeding plumage swims at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) in breeding plumage swims at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Here you can really see the black streaks around the pelican’s facial features and on her gular pouch and beak.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) in breeding plumage flying at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

HOLY SHIT IT’S A FLYING CERATOSAURUS!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) in breeding plumage stretches her wing while loafing on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) in breeding plumage loafing on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

This bird stayed too long on Dune and got addicted to the spice.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) in breeding plumage swims at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) in breeding plumage swims at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Everyone thinks that the album title “Ol’ Blue Eyes Is Back” refers to Sinatra himself. Everyone is wrong. The title refers to sexy pelicans!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) in breeding plumage flying at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

It’s a shame that the pelicans don’t breed here; their breeding horns are so unique that it would be easy to identify individual birds.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) in breeding plumage swims at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

SHE’S COMING RIGHT FOR US, CAPTAIN!

February had been a terrific month for pelican watching in 2014. K and I sometimes stayed out for hours watching them. Additional groups of pelicans started passing through, and sometimes in the evenings there were so many pelicans loafing by the dock that the birds were spread out from the loafing grounds to the Queen of the Log log.

Not this February.

I don’t think I saw any noticeably new pelicans. Maybe once or twice I thought there were slightly more pelicans than usual, but I mostly saw a small, stable crew. Some good news is that pelicans that have been here since the beginning of the season, such as Copper Woman, are still here. So is S21; I smile every time I see her green wing tags. But February was mostly gray and cold, and the pelicans spent most of their loafing time huddled up on or near the marshy spit.

So far, March doesn’t seem any good, either. Even on milder days the pelicans are choosing to loaf on the far-away logs instead of near the shore or near the dock. Last year, as more pelicans flew north and fewer birds were left at the lake, the remaining birds moved to the far-away logs, but that didn’t happen until late March. I really hope that the pelicans are loafing on the far-away logs because the water level is too high by the dock. Q and I will be going on a trip to Florida soon, and hopefully I can still observe close-up pelican action when we return.

In early February there were some sunny days when the pelicans were still feeling frisky, so I will post some pics from that time. The action started on the Shore Log. When I first got there, a pelican was preparing to fly.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) prepares to take off from a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I tracked her as she sailed past the Shore Log and flew out to the deeper parts of the lake to meet up with the pelicans that were out fishing.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) in flight at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) in flight at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) in flight at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

It took me until this winter to realize that both double-crested and neotropic cormorants wintered at White Rock Lake. In January the neotropic cormorants had been very active, and I had enjoyed watching them.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) and neotropic cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) gape at each other on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Hey (hey), you (you), get off of my log!

One might think that because the pelicans are so large, they always win a challenge with a cormorant. That’s not true. Sometimes the pelican is scared off. Sometimes the cormorant is scared off. Often the confrontation ends in a draw. This one ended in a draw.

A few more pelicans jumped up onto the Shore Log.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) stands on a log with another pelican and a neotropic cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) stands on a log next to a neotropic cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Unfortunately, they didn’t do much but preen, so I went to the dock to see if anything were happening there. All I saw was a bunch of coots feeding.

American coot (Fulica americana) upends to look for food at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

HUMAN, DO YOU THINK I HAVE A SEXY BUTT?

American coot (Fulica americana) swims in the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

What do you mean, you’re not into birds like that? That one goose sure thinks you are!

Greylag goose (Anser anser) stands on the shore of White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

How dare you, sir coot! I am a gentleman! I think no such thing!

Back at the shore, pelicans were flying into the bay and looking for places to loaf. A pelican hopped up onto the log and scared the bejesus out of the pelican next to her.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) jumps onto a log and tries to attack another pelican at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Mom! Mom! Mom! Guess what! Guess what!

Luckily for the first pelican, the new bird forgot about fighting and just flapped her wings.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flaps her wings on a log next to another pelican at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flaps her wings on a log next to another pelican at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Another pelican got ready to jump up. . . .

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) prepares to jump on a log next to another pelican at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

. . . She was immediately attacked by the pelican that was already on the log.

(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

Even the cormorant started to get pissed off.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight while a neotropic cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) gapes at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Goddammit, don’t you pelicans ever just CHILL OUT?!

The pelican that had jumped onto the log was losing the fight. She was forced off the log and tried to step forward back onto it.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) loses her balance during a fight with another pelican and a neotropic cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

She managed to get back onto the log, but the attack from the other pelican was so fierce that the beleaguered pelican jumped forward into the water and swam to the marshy spit to loaf there.

I glanced out at the water and caught Lady Katherine finishing a full-flap and sinking back into the water.

Mute swan (Cygnus olor) lowers herself down onto the water after flapping her wings at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

It is I, Birdie Lady of the Lake, who shall guard Excalibur until the worthy recipient comes forth.

The log pelicans were settling down.

American white pelican flaps her wings while standing on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Excuse me, miss, but you are such a beautiful pelican. May I hold this door open for you?

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) balances on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Oh yes, thank you so much, kind pelican! The footing over the threshold is so treacherous!

A pelican engaged in a very brief bit of allopreening with another pelican. Surprisingly, the other pelican tolerated it. Maybe the preening incident was so brief that the groomed bird didn’t feel the need to attack.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) allopreens another pelican at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

One of the log pelicans squatted down as though she were about to take off. I thought she was going to fly back out to fish, but instead she flew just past the log.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) in flight at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) in flight at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Free fallin’, now I’m, free fallin’, now I’m.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) lands on water after a short flight at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I always enjoy seeing the water that’s kicked up as the pelicans land. Their feet must be unbelievably tough.

Back on the Shore Log, a pelican and a cormorant were squabbling.

American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) squabble with a double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Anh! Look at this! The cormorant thinks it can take me!

American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) squabble with a double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Shit, it’s still gaping at me. What should I do now, Anh?

American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) squabble with a double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

What do you mean, I’m not intimidating enough and I should let you have at the cormorant? I can be intimidating!

American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) squabble with a double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

GRRRRRR I’m a big scary pelican!

The match ended in a draw.

I went back to the dock, where I saw a pelican standing and preening on the Queen of the Log log. Another pelican swam up.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) gape at each other in anticipation of fighting at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I love watching log fights, but they are hard for me to photograph. I have to guess how much space to allow the birds and where to focus. How far up might their wings go? How far out might their wings go? Will their bodies be fairly compact as they fight, or will one or both of them be flailing around?

Luckily, I caught most of the action.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) attempts to knock another pelican off of a loafing log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Reminiscent of the pelican that drop-kicked another pelican to knock her off the log, this bird is using her beak to try to push over the log pelican.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) attempts to knock another pelican off of a loafing log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) climbs onto a loafing log after knocking another pelican from it at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

The pelican that had lost her place on the log decided to challenge the usurper.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) gape at each other in anticipation of fighting at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

YOU ASSHOLE, GIVE ME BACK MY LOG!

She quickly dispatched the usurper and situated herself back on the log, Queen again.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) stands on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Who’s the badass? That’s right. You can bow now.

The defeated pelican performed a rouse, swam out to another log, and hopped on.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) finishes a rouse at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) balances on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Well, fine, I’ll just be Queen of this log!

A juvenile flew in, ran to the shore, but before getting onto the land, stopped to preen.

Juvenile American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flaps her wings at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Juvenile American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) preens at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Another pelican flew in and went right for the log behind the juvenile. The log is a new addition to the loafing grounds by the dock. The pelicans love it. I’m not sure whether it’s still there or if it floated somewhere else with all the rain we got in late February.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) lands on water after a flight at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) stands on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Simon says, “Put your wings up!”

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) sits down with her wings up at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Did I win? Did I win?

That was it for the pelicans that day, but two other birds decided to be photogenic. First was Cutie Pie.

Ross's goose (Anser rossii) swims in the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

God, I love this bird.

The other was a male lesser scaup. Sometimes I see one or two by the dock, but they aren’t there every day like they were last year. They are very pretty, especially when the sun is shining and I can see the iridescence in their feathers.

A lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) swims in the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I don’t need to ask your opinion, human: I know I’m sexy!