American White Pelican

American White Pelican at Sunrise

I come to roost in Florida’s marshy areas in the wintertime. You might see huge flocks of us.  Listen to our wings beat as we fly overhead – the noise is pretty impressive.

Most Likely Found: At the beach, In a pond, In the marsh

When: Winter

Where I've photographed: Circle B Bar Reserve, Lake Apopka, Lake Hancock Outfall Wetlands, Lake Morton, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Viera Wetlands

Read more: American White Pelican at Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Ebird: American White Pelican eBird range


I have written 44 posts including a photo of a American White Pelican

American White Pelican

Four American White Pelicans Left in Lakeland

April 13, 2023 - My last set of American White Pelican head shots didn't quite give me the smooth bokeh that I wanted, and I knew a longer focal length and f/4 lens would help.... But instead of the flock of 50-ish American White Pelicans, there were two of them sitting on their favorite…... Read more

American White Pelican

Surprise American White Pelicans

February 6, 2022 - A flock of American White Pelicans had taken over one of our ponds for swimming practice!... This was the first time we'd seen American White Pelicans in the neighborhood, and the cats scurried to update their neighborhood list.... Read more

American White Pelican

Addicted to the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive

June 20, 2017 -  I pulled up to the pond and broke into a huge grin as I spotted a small group of American White Pelicans feeding in the distance....  Normally we see American White Pelicans in the wintertime, not in June!... Read more

American White Pelican

Around Lake Morton

May 20, 2014 -  A lone American White Pelican was lounging on the brick wall near where I parked.... Read more

American White Pelican

Springtime Walk at Lake Morton

March 12, 2014 - So my morning started off with sunrise and American White Pelicans....  I think this was the closest I've been to American White Pelicans.... Read more

American White Pelican

Beast Meets Bobolink

May 19, 2013 - The other fun part of my visit to the Circle B Bar Reserve that afternoon was seeing all the American White Pelicans in the waters off the Wading Bird Way trail.... Read more

Comings and Goings

November 9, 2012 -  There were no yellow flowers yet, but I did have an American White Pelican fly-over!... Read more

Put Your Best Spoon Forward!

June 1, 2012 - I spent last Sunday morning at the Circle B Bar Reserve.  Boy it feels good to get back out there!  I was happy to find lots and lots of Roseate Spoonbills still hanging around off the Wading Bird Way trail.  I counted over 100!  These beautiful birds are some of…... Read more

More from Circle B Bar Reserve

May 21, 2012 - After watching the American White Pelicans that I blogged about yesterday, I got excited when I saw one puff up his feathers and consider a flight across the marsh.... Read more

Sunrise Wings at Circle B Bar Reserve

May 20, 2012 - The best surprise of the morning were the four American White Pelicans that were fishing in the water off the Wading Bird Way trail.  For the past few years, this area has hosted a large flock of birds during the winter.  It was a little disappointing this year when they…... Read more

Finally!

December 29, 2011 - A flock of several hundred American White Pelicans was hanging out fairly near the road.... Read more

History of a Pelican

February 6, 2011 - A few weeks ago, I took a short video of a group of American White Pelicans feeding at the Circle B Bar Reserve.  I thought it was cool because you could see them tossing fish in their mouths, and see the fish bulging out of their pouches as they ate....…... Read more

Lions and Bitterns and Rails, Oh My! Circle B Bar Reserve Never Disappoints

January 23, 2011 - Sunrise over the Marsh (HDR) There were not as many American White Pelicans out on the water as the last time Dyeyo and I went for sunrise.... American White Pelican The Limpkins were active all morning, finding their apple snails and then fighting over them.... https://vimeo.com/341231139 Back out on Wading…... Read more

Another Great Sunrise at the Circle B Bar Reserve

January 9, 2011 - Marsh at sunrise Dyeyo and I have noted a smaller population of American White Pelicans roosting on Wading Bird Way in the mid-mornings in the last week or so.  We see them flying from that marsh area to Lake Hancock at sunrise.  So this morning we were out at Wading…... Read more

Bitterns Saying Hello at Circle B Bar Reserve

January 7, 2011 - American Goldfinch I headed to the south end of Marsh Rabbit Run, where plenty of Wood Storks and American White Pelicans fly over the path every morning.  It's a good place to practice flight photography.  I'm still getting used to my new focal length with my 500mm lens and 1.4x…... Read more

American White Pelican

Frosty Morning at the Circle B Bar Reserve

December 29, 2010 - It was probably not a good morning to be a bird at the Circle B Bar Reserve.  The temperature was around 28 when I arrived at 7:30 in the morning.  The ground was covered in frost.  Skies normally covered in American White Pelicans were empty.  But it was pretty in…... Read more

American White Pelican

Skies Full of American White Pelicans at the Circle B Bar Reserve

December 23, 2010 - The skies of the Circle B Bar Reserve were covered in American White Pelicans this morning.  We arrived at sunrise and stayed till about 11:30.  During that whole time, wave after wave of pelicans flew in.  They must be powered by Energizer...they just keep coming, and coming, and coming!... American…... Read more

American White Pelican

Beautiful Morning at the Circle B Bar Reserve

December 22, 2010 - It was a gorgeous morning at the Circle B Bar Reserve.  We arrived at 7:00, just before sunrise, and the birds put on an amazing wake-up show.  The hundreds of Wood Storks and Sand Hill Cranes that roost in the marsh overnight all woke up and flew away, nicely illuminated…... Read more

American White Pelican

What’s Going On Up There?

December 17, 2010 - I got there around 3:30 and hiked Heron Hideout, Marsh Rabbit Run, and Wading Bird Way.  The American White Pelicans are back and roosting on the water at Wading Bird Way!  Yay!... When I made it out to Wading Bird Way, I saw American White Pelicans en masse.  For months…... Read more

American White Pelican

Cranes and Pelicans and a Circle B Sunset

December 11, 2010 - Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks We were about halfway across Marsh Rabbit Run when we saw a flock of American White Pelicans, flying toward us from the direction of the Shady Oak trail.... American White Pelicans We reached Wading Bird Way just as the sun was setting.... Read more

American White Pelicans Roosting at Circle B Bar Reserve

December 28, 2009 - The air was full of American White Pelicans at the Circle B Bar Reserve this morning.... A huge flock of the pelicans is roosting on the lake at Wading Bird Way.  I took the camera and pointed straight at the sky as they flew overhead: American White Pelicans It was…... Read more

Bird-watching at Circle B Bar Reserve

December 23, 2009 - Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks As we reached Wading Bird Wade, we found ourselves looking at a huge flock of American White Pelicans that had come to roost.  There were so many birds!!  This picture hardly does the sight justice.... American White Pelicans The skies were full of the pelicans, too, flying…... Read more