American White Pelicans at Prime Hook

On today's Prime Hook field trip we had a rare treat of 9 White Pelicans. Noreen first spotted them at some distance, we all got on them, and then slowly but surely they came closer and closer, almost passing directly overhead as we stood on the east end of Prime Hook Road. A super treat for all.

 

Recently Fledged Eastern Screech in Our Yard

Just had a wonderful encounter with a recently fledged Eastern Screech Owl. The neighborhood birds were having a fit out front, so I went to see what they were having a fit about and spotted this little guy "perched" on the side of a large oak.

Sally came out to see him, and we quietly watched for about 3 or 4 minutes before he flew off into the woods next to our house with many small birds in pursuit. Then much to my surprise, the owl flew right past my office window into a Rhododendron just to the left of the window, again with some small birds in pursuit. After a minute or so there, he flew up to a small shelf on the front porch. There he was about 10 ft from one of our hummingbird feeders. A male Ruby-throat showed up, fed without appearing agitated, and so apparently did not see the owl.