West Seattle wildlife: Rare white pelican visiting

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Click image for larger view)
Trileigh Tucker has shared some beautiful bird photos here in recent years – but these are the first ones of an American White Pelican!

Even brown pelicans are seldom seen here in the Puget Sound area (though one visited West Seattle last winter). This one turned up in the Lincoln Park/Lowman Beach area; we also have a photo of the white pelican on the water, courtesy of Emily Austin:

Emily says this is the second consecutive day she’s seen the pelican. According to the Seattle Audubon website, their range in our state is usually closer to the Columbia River.

k November 2, 2013 (12:38 pm)

Thanks again to Trileigh for spotting another amazing critter!

Trileigh November 2, 2013 (12:44 pm)

Thanks, K! I hope you can get down there and see him/her.

JanS November 2, 2013 (1:24 pm)

maybe the wind blew him up here from the Columbia :)

Kip November 2, 2013 (1:53 pm)

@ Trileigh – Thanks for sharing, so graceful!

kalo November 2, 2013 (2:04 pm)

Nice photo, Emily!

JimClark November 2, 2013 (2:24 pm)

Add to the wildlife sightings just had two small flocks of snow geese flying over our house headed south. I know they are starting to arrive back up in the skagit area but never see them down this way

Sonoma November 2, 2013 (8:57 pm)

Wonderful photo, Trileigh!

seewhatsealionsstart November 2, 2013 (9:45 pm)

Beautiful photos Emily & Trileigh, would love to see this gorgeous pelican!
-Alisa

Maggie November 3, 2013 (6:19 pm)

Okay! I saw it flying around above/around Fauntleroy ferry terminal on Friday afternoon on my commute home to Vashon. At first I thought, great blue heron? But then I realized it was white. Kinda puzzled me but I shrugged it off. Two crows were following it around as it swooped around the cove. Very cool – glad I just spotted this post! Thanks WSB & neighbors!

KarenJo November 4, 2013 (12:42 pm)

Nice photos.
It’s very unusual to see these birds singly.

Trileigh November 5, 2013 (8:34 am)

So glad that some other folks got to see this beautiful bird as well! There are additional photos in better light on my Flickr site at Flickr.com/photos/Trileigh.

steve silver November 17, 2013 (2:53 pm)

just spotted an all white pelican circling tree tops for a landing above wetlands at south end of first avenue south bridge as i headed north around noon today. not like the brown ones i see in baja california, it had a huge wingspan like an adult bald eagle. amazing, didn’t think they made it this far north or west!

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