Yesterday, while I was out on the Ferrari Pond Trail, I discovered that my Merlin’s Bird of the Day was the American White Pelican. I thought that was an omen because the day before, just as I arrived, a friend alerted me to an American White Pelican in Ferrari Pond near the trail head. Although it was backlit, I decided to take a few shots before moving in case it took off. Of course, it took off almost immediately. A moment later I encountered another friend who chastised me (jokingly, I think) that I had scared off the Pelican. He then showed me his beautiful images in perfect light including one of the Pelican gulping down a catfish as well as all of the flight shots that I missed. So, yesterday morning, after discovering the American White Pelican was my Bird of the Day, the same friend, who rides a bike along the trail, pedaled up to tell me that the Pelican was back. I walked back and sure enough, there was the Pelican, giving me a smug look as if thinking, “you blew your chance yesterday, I’m just gonna paddle around now.” And, that was true, it just paddled and preened but it was nice light and I love getting a shot of my ‘Bird of the Day’ on the same day!