Pelican Panic!
My backlog is building up so I’ll try harder to pump out these blogposts but this one will be a bit on the shorter side. Apologies in advance as for the next few months my posts will be a bit non-linear since I’ve decided to write about the trips I’ve been most inspired about and this is definitely one of them. On January 17, Jac Senagan, a local guide based in Dumaguete, posted one of the most incredible vagrants in all my years of birding. A pelican seen in Tanjay Wetlands near Dumaguete in Negros Oriental. The ID wasn't yet fully confirmed and it was a choice between Spot-billed or Dalmatian Pelican. There had been random (Likely escapee) White Pelicans in the 2020s but the last true pelican seen in the PH was an Australian Pelican seen in General Santos in 2016, unfortunately like most large birds, it “allegedly” met an unfortunate end as it “allegedly” was “rescued” and has remained in captivity ever since where it is still “allegedly” alive. If it was a Spot-billed Pelican ...
