Wild on Sanibel

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White Pelicans and Juvenile Bald Eagle

It had been a couple of weeks since we’d been to the Ding Wildlife Refuge, but had heard about all of the white pelican activity going on. The volunteer at the gate told us that someone had stopped counting at over 700 white pelicans one day. We were treated to a feeding frenzy at one of the culverts. They were waiting where the tide flows from one side of the road to the other and fish are caught up in the fast flowing water, making for a good breakfast.

The brown pelican below got his mohawk on

A brown pelican isn’t a small bird, yet up against the white pelican . . .

One of them would spot a fish and there would be a huge frenzy of activity to see who could grab the fish. They were piled on top of each other, trying to be the winner.

Ok. Who has it?!!!

LOOK! He’s got it!

Mmmff . . . nuthin’ to . . . see here . . . mmmff

Look out behind you!!

Whew! That was close!

This tri-colored heron didn’t want to be a part of the craziness

We were treated to a juvenile bald eagle on a fly-by, then he landed far away at the edge of the water and caught a fish. The photos are grainy due to the distance.

He’s not going to share with the great blue heron, but showed his prize to him as he flew by

Then around the bend and out of sight

One wood stork flew over the frenzy

And then, back home to see this red-bellied woodpecker eating the berries in our tree