and a magnificent one. when i was a kid there was one sitting on every piling in lake pontchartrain. ddt almost wiped them out, but they are coming back.

thanks for all of these , donkees, the hummingbirds alone have been worth opening the posts. i can't wait for the ruby throated hummingbirds to return to my feeder.

(Meanwhile, it's about eight more weeks until my Rubies return)

"A marvelous bird is the pelican,
His beak can hold more than his belly can;
He can hold in his beak
Enough food for a week,
But I don't know how the hell he can."
--Author unknown

(Oregon coast). I've never seen them up close. They are beautiful! Thanks for posting.