Posted by Marie on February 18, 2003 at 09:23:19:
In Reply to: Brown Pelican w/red throat pouch posted by Brennan Mulrooney on January 28, 2003 at 17:20:18:
: Yesterday while working in Florida Bay near Flamingo, I saw an adult, breeding plumage Brown Pelican with a bright red gular pouch.
: I must admit that I don't usually pay much attention to the Pelicans and probably wouldn't even have noticed this one if the guy with me (not a birder) hadn't pointed it out. I'm used to seeing them like that in CA, so it didn't strike me as odd, but it certainly caught his attention.
: Anybody know if this is a regular occurence in Eastern Brown Pelicans? Now that I'm looking, I haven't seen another one.
: Thanks,
: Brennan
: PS the Flamingo at Flamingo was still there yesterday.
I was out on a boat trip late afternoon/early evening (Feb. 17) on Estero Bay (west coast) and the Captain who was a good birder mentioned that he had seen a Brown Pelican with a red pouch. He seemed quite baffled by this sighting.