Chirps and Cheeps

A Photo Journal of My Birding Adventures & Observations

My birding blog site


  Sunday Birding at INWR

Published: July 14, 2013
Tags: Parks and Preserves, American White Pelican, Bald Eagle, Black Tern, Caspian Tern, Red-head Woodpecker, Blue-winged Warbler, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Veery, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Green Frog, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Phoebe, Willow Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher

Early Sunday morning, I drove out to INWR to find the previously reported American White Pelican.  He was there - big orange feet, huge yellow bill and all! The pelican is a large, heavy bird (up to 30 pounds!) and was very easy to spot - even at the great distance he was at - waaaaay out in the furthest pool amongst many, many Great Egrets.

The American White Pelican has black primaries that I didn't notice until he had taken flight. This particular bird was an immature bird as he had a dusky cap on his head and no "centerboard" on the ridge of his bill (only seen in breeding season).  I saw only one American White Pelican in the WNY area before and that was at Tifft Nature Preserve last June (Tifft Part Deux and a White Pelican).

Unlike the Brown Pelican, this pelican will scoop up fish while he's swimming instead of diving down to get them from the air - and they'll often fish in groups.  When he's caught some fish, he points his bill downward, allowing the water to drain (his bill can hold up to 3 gallons of water!). He'll then tip his head back and swallow his catch!

Shortly after I left the overlook, I saw the pelican fly overhead. I heard that he returned to the same location later on, though.

I did more hiking around the preserve and was treated to some nice sights: Bald Eagles, several Black Terns, a Caspian Tern, a very boisterous and busy Red-head Woodpecker, a Blue-winged Warbler, several flycatchers, more Great Blue Herons than I've ever seen in one day, many, many Great Egrets, a Veery, and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, to name a few.  At one spot, little Green Frogs were everywhere!  I had to step gingerly to avoid hurting any as they leaped away in every direction with each step.

I also took a little time to look closer at some butterflies and dragonflies.  I don't have them all ID'd yet, but I'm working on it! They sure are pretty when you look at them closely.

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American White Pelican

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American White Pelican

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American White Pelican

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American White Pelican sitting amongst some Great Egrets in the far pool

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This Bald Eagle was getting tormented by some Red-winged Blackbirds at Kumpf Marsh

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Young Great Blue Heron. I must have seen at least 30 of these guys today!

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Black Tern with a fresh minnow

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Immature Black Tern

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Blue-winged Warbler

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Blue-winged Warbler

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Red-headed Woodpecker

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Red-headed Woodpecker - what a noisy and busy guy!

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Red-headed Woodpecker - he was drumming and squawking to beat the band!

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Red-headed Woodpecker

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Young Eastern Phoebe

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Male Ruddy Duck

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Spotted Sandpiper

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Spotted Sandpipers

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These little Green Frogs were everywhere at one marsh; there must have been a recent hatching

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Cute little bunny at Kumpf Marsh

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Spicebush Swallowtail?

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I'm pretty sure this is a male Spicebush Swallowtail

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Monarch Butterfly

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Female Blue Dasher

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Blue Dasher

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Blue Dasher

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Halloween Pennant

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Blue Dasher

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Blue Dasher

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Blue Dasher

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Female Blue Dasher

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Male Eastern Pondhawk

Reply from: Carl on 7/15/2013 8:28 PM
 Nice shots Sue! I particularly like the dragonflies.
Reply from: Norm on 7/15/2013 9:19 PM
 Great pictures, fun to see what you can do.
Reply from: Sue on 7/16/2013 6:07 AM
 Thanks, guys. The insects turned out better than I had hoped. I was using the wrong tool/lens for the job (zoom vs macro), so I was pleased when the enlargements turned out pretty decent. Thanks very much for your comments!


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