On Sept. 1st, 2008 we observed a Brown Pelican flying south in Hales Passage (Passage East of Lummi Island) approx. 0.5 miles north of Eliza Island. I saw it coming from a distance and just assumed that it was a Great Blue Heron. Something about it's flight pattern must have affected me subconsciously, because even before it was close enough to I.D. I started thinking, "Wouldn't that be neat if that were a Pelican; it would be fun to have them around here on a regular basis". And then as it came closer (it passed within 10 yards of our boat), what do you know, a Brown Pelican! We also saw several (8 to 10) Red Necked Phalaropes in and around Obstruction Pass.

John Rybczyk
Associate Professor
Department of Environmental Science
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA 98225
john.rybczyk at wwu.edu