You can look at the calendar or check the thermometer (on some days) to see if winter has arrived in Florida, but another sure sign is the return of American White Pelicans.
These big white birds (their wingspan can be 9-1/2 feet across!) migrate south for the winter with Florida being one of their destinations.
“Unlike the brown pelican, which is found year-round in Florida, and non-breeding white pelican juveniles, healthy adult white pelicans are winter visitors to the state,” the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission notes. In the summer, white pelican adults breed in colonies on lakes in the interior of western Canada and the northwestern United States. Winters are spent in southern Mexico, southern California and along the Gulf Coast states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida.”
Last weekend at Black Point Wildlife Drive on Merritt Island, there was a group of about 20 or so White Pelicans feeding in one of the ponds. They got spooked at one point, took off and then glided back to the water.
Of course, there were a lot of other birds around the pond, too.
American White Pelicans with White Ibis and Little Blue Heron, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, January 2026.American White Pelicans, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, January 2026.American White Pelicans, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, January 2026.American White Pelicans, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, January 2026.American White Pelicans in the sky, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, January 2026.Snowy Egrets, Glossy Ibis, White Ibis, Little Blue Herons and Roseate Spoonbills take the the sky after being spooked by the White Pelicans taking off, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, January 2026.American White Pelican, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, January 2026.American White Pelican in the sky, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, January 2026.American White Pelican and Glossy Ibis, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, January 2026.American White Pelican, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, January 2026.American White Pelican, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, January 2026.American White Pelican and White Ibis, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, January 2026.Caspian Tern with a big catch, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, January 2026.Roseate Spoonbills, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, January 2026.Snowy Egret, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, January 2026.American Avocet, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, January 2026.
I went to Orlando Wetlands hoping to get a chance to photograph some baby Barred Owls. I ended up with photos of a colorful new-to-me bird: Indigo Buntings.
