Pelicans in Dulwich?

[gwod]

My daughter has recently seen what she thinks are Pelicans flying overhead. I know there are some in St James's park, but do they really fly around the city a bit? We have looked up pictures of flying Pelicans on line and she feels sure that it is one of them...she says that usually they are being chased by crows....has anyone else seen this?

[elloriac]

Could it not have been a heron? They commonly get mobbed when they fly as well and is much more likely. I thought the pelicans had their wings clipped so they couldn't leave St James' Park?

[lorna63]

There is a Heron that flys all over London, I have seen it (assuming it's the same one) at Crystal Palace Park and also Ruskin Park.

[gwod]

Yes, I keep saying it must be a heron (we see those quite often) but she is quite adamant, (though not necessarily right!!!) She described it as white with a beak that is "rubbery and flappy at the bottom" (!). I think I am just hoping she was right as it would be a such great thing to spot. If the Pelicans in St James's are clipped then the pelican theory seems even more unlikely.

[elloriac]

Well, according to this old article in the Evening Standard, one of the pelicans was not part of the 'collection' and just arrived one day, and thus does not have his wings clipped & has been seen flying in London:

http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-9473627/Mind-out-there-s-a.html

So I guess it's possible, as pelicans can apparently live 50 years!

[Nero]

Needs a log in. Any chance of posting it some other way?

[Sue]

Could you copy and paste the article here, elloriac?

[ianr]

If you're a small bird, be careful out there. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1320429/Pelican-swallows-pigeon-London-park.html

[gwod]

Ooh! Eloriac, please do cut and paste the article for us. Incidentally, the most recent sighting wthe "Pelican" was flying towards NW London, so towards St James's

[elloriac]

Sorry, I don't have a login either, I was just basing it on the part of the article I could see! But it looks shorter now - weird!

From my cache, here's what I could see earlier:

AS THE old limerick goes, "a wonderful bird is the pelican". And Gargi is a little bit more wonderful than most.

Not only is he rather handsome (in an odd, pelican sort of way), he has become an expert at posing for the cameras and enjoys the distinction of being London's first pelican commuter.

He spends part of his time in St James's Park with its four permanent pelican residents. But unlike them he is an interloper, and has never had his wings clipped.

So when he feels a bit peckish - and being a chap "whose beak can hold more than his belly can", that is quite often - he simply flies off in search of more dinner.

Park manager Mark Wasileski said: "Gargi is often seen walking the park's paths. We have also had sightings of him on top of Primrose Hill admiring the view, down by the Thames fishing and at London Zoo where he goes for second helpings."

So frequent are Gargi's trips between the park and the zoo that he has become...

Publication: The Evening Standard (London, England)

Publication Date: 31-JAN-06

[annaj]

It's true that one of the pelicans in St James's park doesn't live there, but just visits, I remember my dad telling me years ago (and, obviously, everything my dad says is true).

But if "my dad says so" is not evidence enough I've seen it take off from the lake and fly away myself, so, gwod, you daughter may well have spotted a flying pelican...

[Jah Lush]

I've seen a pelican in the past flying over Dulwich and I've seen herons too. One quite recently too. So I don't think your daughter was mistaken.

[Sue]

ianr Wrote:

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> If you're a small bird, be careful out there.

> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1320429/Pe

> lican-swallows-pigeon-London-park.html

xxxxxxx

I don't understand this - the picture was also in Saturday's Guardian.

But I remember an identical picture a few years back - anyone else?

Is someone regurgitating (:) ) old photos, or has a pigeon made the same mistake twice?

[ianr]

Er, I think it's the sort of mistake that a pigeon doesn't make twice.

A quick search on 'pelican eating pigeon' does dredge up previous, like http://www.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/6083468.stm. The names and credits there differ from the latest one.

There are also videos available on the theme, of I don't know how many distinct cases. The one I looked at seemed to be a different, straight grab-and-chomp job.

The pelican community is going to need a PR makeover, I think. And maybe protection from other snappers trying to tempt them into a follow-up.

[Alex K]

@GWOD: I really LIKE the idea of a pelican being sighted in East Dulwich. I wish that I had seen it. It doesn't matter, not all that much, if what you interpreted as a pelican WAS a pelican. The concept is grand enough to stand on its own.

I spent two years in Galveston, on the Gulf of Mexico, where pelicans were yawnable and everyday. Pelicans are like flying handbags. They don't extend their necks in flight (as I remember), but instead S-curve them back against their stumpy broad torsos. Was this the profile that you and your daughter saw? I hope that it was.

[Sue]

ianr Wrote:

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> Er, I think it's the sort of mistake that a pigeon

> doesn't make twice.

xxxxxxx

I believe the first pigeon did escape? Or maybe that's just wishful thinking :)

[gwod]

Alex K, I agree, that's one of the reasons that made me post it here - it would be a great thing to spot -or even to think you have spotted. Having trawled Pelican (and Heron) pictures with her since, this is the one she says is most like what she saw

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://techxplorerphotos.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/pelican-in-flight.jpg%253Fw%253D840&imgrefurl=http://www.xiongdudu.com/image/Australian_Native_Animals/9&usg=__1Ztqqfg7jZxkBAvJbCAVnO8xFKI=&h=493&w=640&sz=101&hl=en&start=111&zoom=1&tbnid=bCFNY3Mhyq2ZzM:&tbnh=112&tbnw=145&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpelican%2Bin%2Bflight%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26rlz%3D1R2GPEA_en%26biw%3D1579%26bih%3D671%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C2124&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=290&vpy=195&dur=1360&hovh=197&hovw=256&tx=132&ty=122&ei=IEm_TPL_Ooa6jAeWnPm5Ag&oei=aEi_TKGTN5OD4QaU8P3sAQ&esq=2&page=5&ndsp=33&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:111&biw=1579&bih=671 but much less black on the wings and beak more "rubbery and flappy"

Keep your eyes peeled!

[TheGreatErnie]

How exciting perhaps we could have some more visitors from regents park

[gwod]

Look - lots of UK sightings of Great White Pelicans in the UK

http://www.birdguides.com/species/species.asp?sp=15001

I think I'm convinced. So we've got Pelicans and Parakeets, what next? Lyre birds and flamingoes? I can't wait!

[Alex K]

Oh, yes, GWOD -- that's just how they cruised along on the seawind above the ferry across to Bolivar. All they need is a set of buckles and an over-the-shoulder carry strap. Thank you!

[jblack]

lorna63 Wrote:

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> There is a Heron that flys all over London, I have

> seen it (assuming it's the same one) at Crystal

> Palace Park and also Ruskin Park.

I'm pretty sure it's the same one. It gets around a bit - I've also seen it in Dorset, Yorkshire and Crete!

[felt-tip]

It might not be the same one. MIGHT be. Probably is though.

[Sue]

felt-tip Wrote:

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> It might not be the same one. MIGHT be. Probably

> is though.

xxxxx

Well, there was a family of three herons seen together on Peckham Rye lake earlier in the year - so there's at least a one in three chance it's not the same one :))

[The Minkey]

I was munching on a bit of toast one day, idley gazing out the kitchen window and did a double-take at the sight of a huge Heron standing on top of the hedge just 15 feet away. It became a regular visitor until my neighbour got round to netting over his fishpond.

From what I recall, Herons also retract their necks while flying btw.

[DulwichFox]

I can see it now.

I will not name any restaurant in particular, That would not be fair ...

But ... suspect a certain Restaurant will soon be serving Pelican.