At first glance, the Locks & Dams along the Mississippi River look like monstrous slabs of concrete and metal and not a place to bird. However, these are excellent fishing grounds for Bald Eagles, American White Pelicans, and Double-crested Cormorants.
We could have spent many hours admiring the Pelicans and Cormorants, but alas, our birding day had to come to an end. If you are into photographing Pelicans, this is the place to go. Some of these large birds came so close we felt the urge to duck out of the way. It was hard to focus and isolate one bird out of the masses. It was a fitting end to a wonderful-weathered Saturday of birding along the mighty Mississippi River.
Double-crested Cormorants
We were on the Mississippi River by Prairie du Chien on Monday (Labor Day) and there was a flock of birds that we had no idea what they were. The body was black and the wings were white. At first we thought they were some sort of geese, but when we got closer it looked somewhat like a pelican. All I know is that their wings looked like snow up against the blue sky. Would you be able to tell me what I might have seen?
Mara – not sure based on your description… the first idea I had was American White Pelican but they are white with black wings, not the other way around… any other details about the bird?