While on a Southwest Washington coast birding loop yesterday, Natalie and
I were a little surprised to see early returning Brown Pelicans fishing
and plying the breezes at Cape Disappointment and along the North Jetty
at the mouth of the Columbia River. There were 15 or more pelicans
soaring in formation as they were fishing at the river's mouth and
northward along the shore.

I usually associate the arrival of Brown Pelicans with a time later in
the summer, and especially with fall, so it was fun to see them back in
the area.

It was also interesting watching the host of nesting cormorants - Brandt
and Pelagic - as they settled in for the night along the bluff near the
Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center. There is a lot of activity in this
area around 6:30 p.m. On the park grounds we also had a Brown Creeper
along with looks at the large numbers of gulls and terns.

The only other things of note from this trip were quite a few Turkey
Vultures soaring overhead as we drove back inland along the Columbia
River - three near Deep River, three near Grays River, and four near the
Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge.

--
Rob McNair-Huff <mailto:rob at whiterabbits.com>
White Rabbit Publishing <http://www.whiterabbits.com>
Publisher of Mac Net Journal <http://www.whiterabbits.com/MacNetJournal>
The Equinox Project <http://www.whiterabbits.com/weblog.html>
Co-author of Insiders Guide to the Olympic Peninsula