Tweeters,

Yesterday (July 13), Terry Wahl reported an imm. BROWN PELICAN from about
3 to 3:30 PM, roosting with gulls on the north side of Bellingham Bay in
Bellingham. The bird was on the long concrete pier of the abandoned
cement plant, close to and most easily seen from Little Squalicum Park
on the waterfront.

By 4:30, the pelican had disappeared. However, it was back in the same place
by 6:45 PM. I zipped down from BC to see the bird, arriving there about
8:45 PM. The pelican was still on the pier, preening, and it remained
until I left at 9:30. I presume that it stayed overnight.

For the record, single Brown Pelicans were seen at White Rock, BC on July 9
and at Steveston (just across the Fraser River mouth from the Reifel Bird
Sanctuary) on July 10. These sightings likely refer to the same bird present
in Bellingham yesterday.

Even though pelicans are common on the outer Washington coast, this was
my first-ever sighting in the Puget Sound/Georgia Strait area in
Washington. (I didn't have time to chase after the two pelicans that spent
some time around Olympia last year.)

With repeated reports of a probable BROWN BOOBY in Bellingham Bay over
the previous 3 days, it looks like there may be a mini-invasion of sulids
underway. Maybe a GANNET next? :-) :-)

Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus at telus.net