Great White Pelican
Pelecanus onocrotalus Linnaeus, 1758
Photo © By Franco Pecchio from Milano, Italy - 200812_kenya-118, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75700578
STATUS
Eurasia. Monotypic.
OVERVIEW
Species not admitted nationally (BOU 1971).
NOT PROVEN
0). 1663 Norfolk Horsey Fen, shot, May.
(Yarrell, 1871-85).
History Howard Saunders (1871-85 (4): 161, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'A White Pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus, is mentioned by Sir Thomas Browne, and afterwards by Montagu, as having been shot in Horsey Fen, Norfolk, in May, 1663, but it was supposed to be one of the King's birds which had flown away from St. James.'
0). 1856 Co. Durham Castle Eden, picked up dead on the shore, 25th August.
(H. B. Tristram, Zoologist 1856: 5321).
[KAN].
History H. B. Tristram (1856) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XIV. p. 5321, dated 10th September, 1856, says: 'On the 25th of last month a lady picked up, among some rocks on the shore at Castle Eden, a mutilated adult specimen of this bird, in full plumage. The carcase, which is now in my possession, had been much eaten, and had apparently been tossing about for about a fortnight, and the head was altogether destroyed; but enough remained to show it had been a very fine bird. Whether it had wandered alone and perished at sea, or made its escape from some passing vessel, I leave to others to conjecture. I am not aware that this bird has ever been taken in any part of Northern Europe.'
Comment It is not proven that it died within British waters. Not acceptable.
0). 1874 Kent Faversham, shot, 10th October.
("Frank" Field 10th Oct., 1874: 395; E. Newman, Zoologist 1874: 4262). E. Newman, Zoologist 1874: 4262
History "Frank" of Faversham (1874) in The Field of 10th Oct., Vol. XLIV. p. 395, says: 'There was a vague report recently in this town that an eagle had been seen by some fishermen chasing the Curlews, and flying over the masts of the smacks. I knew that this strange visitor was not likely to be an eagle, but determined to have out the boat I shoot wildfowl in, and hoist sail and look for him. This morning I received word that the so-called eagle had been shot, and awaited my inspection in the bar of a public-house kept by Mr. George Keem. The bird killed was as large as an ordinary goose, and proved to be a veritable pelican, full feathered, and in excellent plumage. It had the beautiful rosy tint in the feathers of its breast which is noticeable in the Kingfisher's egg, and peculiar, I suppose, to the species, black on its wings, and a bag and bill as long as any lawyer's. The cause of death was a rifle bullet, which had severed the jugular vein and drilled a hole through its neck. A coast-guardsman had seen it fishing and flying about the shallows at the mouth of the creek, and had shot it sitting. His first shot had cut about the feathers of one wing, but I saw no trace of confinement whatever. Has any Zoological garden lost such a bird? Does it ever visit British waters? Yarrell does not admit it, and, of course, the story of the Curlew chase is nonsense.'
[Perhaps our correspondent can obtain and forward some further particulars, with a description and measurement (of bill, wing, and tarsus), which might enable an identification of the species.]
E. Newman, Editor (1874) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. IX. p. 4262, says: 'On the 10th of October a Pelican was killed at Faversham by a coast-guardsman: it was in beautiful plumage, and exhibited no signs of confinement. On reading the report, Mr. Arthur Reeve, the Manager of the Zoological Gardens at Margate, stated that a Pelican flew from its pen in these gardens on Sunday, the 25th September: there can be little doubt that this was the same individual.'
Comment Known escape. Not acceptable.
0). 1883 Somerset Exmoor, shot, early April.
(Yarrell, 1871-85).
History Howard Saunders (1871-85 (4): 161, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'Mr. Cecil Smith informs the Editor that early in April, 1883, he examined one which had been shot on Exmoor, and subsequently proved to have escaped from a travelling menagerie.'
0). 1905 Oxfordshire Greenfield, four, seen, late July.
(A. H. Cocks, Zoologist 1906: 193-194).
History Alfred Heneage Cocks of Poynetts, Skirmett (1906) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. X. pp. 193-194, says: 'In the Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain's notes (ante, p. 142), I was interested to read of the occurrence of a White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) in the Derwent Valley on Nov. 4th, 1905, and in a footnote on same page the statement that the species has recently occurred in Bavaria in a wild state, because Pelicans (sp.), whether wild or escapes, seem to have passed over this neighbourhood last summer. Mr. A. England, one of the partners in the large Pheasant farm at Greenfield, between the border of the southwest corner of Bucks, and Watlington (Oxon), told me, on Sept. 1st last, that "four or five weeks" previously he had seen four Pelicans flying over Greenfield in about a north-west direction. Mr. A. England is not an ornithologist, but a keen-eyed practical observer; and a Pelican once seen in the "Zoo" or a travelling menagerie, or even in a picture, is a bird for which it is hardly conceivable that anything else could be mistaken - at any rate, when, as in this case, they passed close by Mr. England; and he particularly noted the enormous bills. Greenfield is just in the line of flight for waterfowl passing up the Thames, if they avoid the bend beginning at Spade Oak, Little Marlow, and strike the river again a short distance below Oxford.'
0). 1905 Hampshire Beaulieu River, near Need's Ore, seen, 2nd August.
(F. M. Walker, Field 12th Aug., 1905: 337).
History F. M. Walker, Commander R.N. of H.M. Coastguard, Lymington (1905) in The Field of 12th Aug., Vol. CVI. p. 337, says: 'While crossing the lower part of the Beaulieu River from Need's Ore to Lepe on Aug. 2 at about noon, my companion called my attention to a strange bird that was swimming across our boat's bow. On nearing it I saw that it was a Pelican, the enormous beak being quite unmistakeable. When within about ten yards of the boat the bird attempted to fly, but could not entirely raise itself from the water, flapping heavily along the surface for a short distance and then resuming swimming, which it did strongly. It seemed quite at home, and was making for the mudflats on the south side of the river, which were just uncovering with the early ebb. It was evidently a young bird, was of about the size of a large swan, though of quite a different shape; the plumage whitish grey, with a good deal of black on the back and wings. One of the coastguards in the boat informed me that he had been told of the bird by a local man, who had chased it in a boat and nearly come up with it, but seeing the size of its beak thought it better to leave it alone. I have never heard of anyone rearing Pelicans in the neighbourhood, though it is possible that someone may do so, or it may have escaped from some passing steamer. I may add that I am quite familiar with the appearance of Pelicans, having seen them both abroad in a state of nature and at home in captivity. My companion and the coastguard in the boat are equally positive as to the identity of the bird. I am afraid it is not likely to survive long, as there are numerous punt gunners about who are sure to be on its track, and at present it could easily be caught from a boat.'
0). 1905 Derbyshire Little Eaton, Derwent Valley, male, shot, 4th November.
(F. C. R. Jourdain, Zoologist 1906: 141-142; Ed., Field 2nd Dec., 1905: 989).
History: F. C. R. Jourdain (1906) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. X. pp. 141-142, says: 'On Nov. 4th an enormous white bird was seen flying over the Derwent Valley, near Little Eaton. It was apparently attracted by the sight of the water, and settled in a field close to the river, causing a stampede among the cattle and sheep grazing in the meadows. A local innkeeper, Mr. S. Stevens, stalked and shot the bird, which turned out to be a fine male White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus). According to the local papers, it measured twelve feet in expanse of wing, and weighed fifty pounds. I saw it in Mr. Hutchinson's shop, and the plumage was clean and in good order, and, as the nearest place where these birds are kept in captivity is at least fifty miles away, it must have possessed considerable powers of flight. Up to the present no information as to the escape of any captive bird has reached us".
Further, in a footnote, he adds: 'It is perhaps worth noting that the White Pelican has recently been recorded frorn Bavaria in a wild state, as well as the Flamingo, which is admitted to the British list by Mr. Howard Saunders on somewhat similar evidence to the above.'
In an Editorial (1905) in The Field of 2nd Dec., Vol. CVI. p. 989, he says: 'Mr. Hutchinson, taxidermist, of Derby, has received for preservation a White Pelican, recently shot at Little Eaton, about four miles from Derby. It measured in length from tip of bill to end of tail 6 ft. 4 in., and in expanse of wing nearly 12 ft. The presumption is that it made its escape from some private owner of ornamental waterfowl and met with the usual fate of uncommon birds.'
0). 1906 Norfolk Breydon, seen, 21st to 22nd July.
(J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1907: 131-132; J. H. Gurney, jun., Field 4th Aug., 1906: 239; Piotrowski, 2003).
History J. H. Gurney, jun. (1906) in The Field of 4th Aug., Vol. CVIII. p. 239, says: 'About 5 p.m. on July 21 a very large bird was seen by Mr. Jary, the watcher on Breydon Broad, slowly winging its way from the east, the wind being S,4. It was also seen by Mr. Arthur Patterson, and speedily identified as a Pelican. About four hours after it had arrived it was observed that it had been joined by a Spoonbill. This makes one think that they had both come from the Continent, impelled by the same atmospheric conditions, a circumstance which does not negative the suggestion that the Pelican may have escaped from confinement, though it makes it less likely. The next morning the Pelican was seen by the watcher to take its departure at 9.30 a.m., flying slowly in an easterly direction, i.e., towards the sea, the wind being light (W.S.W., force 2), and since then no more has been heard of it. If anyone has lost a Pelican I should be glad to be informed?'
Patterson (1907: 232-233) says: 'On the afternoon of July 21st, 1906, Fred Clarke, one of the Breydoners, hailed me just as I had reached my houseboat to spend the night there, and hastening to his location I found him much excited over the advent of a Pelican; and there, bunched up on the edge of Duffell's drain [Norfolk], with his head drawn into his shoulders, and his pouch full of flounders, sat the ungainly bird, sleeping off the effects of a full stomach. Early next morning I sent my small son Gilbert with his binoculars to have a good look at him. He was in the same spot, and was busy preening his feathers and shaking his wings; not far from him stood a Spoonbill. The Pelican shortly after lifted himself a-wing and went direct east. I saw by a London paper shortly after that a Pelican (undoubtedly the same individual) was seen at Whitstable.
Mr. J. H. Gurney, writing me on October 12th, says: "It seems that when the Pelican left Norfolk last July, it went to Whitstable flats at the mouth of the Thames, where it has been through the greater part of August and September." I was very loth to give this bird a place in my local list, well knowing that many of them are kept in captivity, but having regard to the long-continued prevalence of the south, south-west, and south-east winds during this phenomenally hot summer, I now consider it quite possible that this bird may have visited us from Southern Europe.
Still more strongly am I impressed with the likelihood of this, seeing that notwithstanding inquiries set afoot by Mr. Gurney, myself, and probably others, no "escape" could be traced; besides, a Flamingo appeared in Suffolk at about the same time, and other rare birds Glossy Ibises and Red-crested Whistling Ducks, for instance, were recorded and obtained. An interesting note subsequently appeared in the Zoologist (November, 1906) referring to the Pelican (Pelecanus onocretalus), and stating that late in October it took up its "nightquarters in the open marshes near the shore, some distance from the town (Whitstable), and when not engaged in seafishing roamed over the pastures, and is often seen resting on the ground among the sheep at a distance of over a mile inland. The pastures are intersected with ditches and stream-dykes, which afford the pelican food, but its almost daily habit has been to go to the shore on a fishing excursion when the tide is well out. Lately its visits to the sea have been less frequent, owing probably to the many attempts which have been made to shoot or capture it. The bird is strong on the wing".
A suggestion was made that it may have escaped from a ship; but its plumage when I saw it, as early as July, did not exhibit the least appearance that would lead one to conclude this to have been the case. A Pelican cooped aboard ship would in a very short time show traces of prison life.'
Piotrowski (2003) claims it for Suffolk but the Duffell's Drain is in Norfolk.
0). 1906 Kent Near Whitstable, seen, early July to at least 20th November; same as Norfolk.
(S. Saunders, Zoologist 1906: 431-432; Ed., Field 6th Oct., 1906: 609; J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1907: 131-132).
History In an Editorial (1906) in The Field of 6th Oct., Vol. CVIII. p. 609, says: 'It is reported that since the end of July a large white Pelican has been frequently observed on Seasalter Marsh, about three miles west of Whitstable, and was seen there so recently as Oct. 2. It is satisfactory to learn that gunners in the neighbourhood have abstained from shooting at it, and it may, perhaps, turn out that it has escaped from captivity. If so the owner may be glad to know of its whereabouts.'
0). 1915 Norfolk/Suffolk Breydon, seen, 24th September.
(A. H. Patterson, Zoologist 1916: 364; Piotrowski, 2003).
History A. H. Patterson (1916) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. XX. p. 364, says: '1915. September 24th. - A Pelican, undoubtedly a stray, was observed on the flats by a gunner named Wigg, who disturbed it, when it rose to a great height and flew away in a north-easterly direction.'
0). 1917 Kent Whitstable, caught, 21st January.
(A. Venables Kyrke, Field 3rd Feb., 1917: 186).
[D. Seth-Smith, Field 10th Feb., 1917: 226].
History A. Venables Kyrke (1917) in The Field of 3rd Feb., Vol. CXXIX. p. 186, says: 'On Jan. 21 I was told that some of my men were trying to catch a "big strange bird", a Spoonbill, on the shore at Whitstable, just in front of our mess. On hurrying out, I found the bird had just been captured. It was not a Spoonbill, however, but a Pelican! It was in good condition, its head and neck were a blush pink, and it appeared to be quite uninjured. It had evidently been in captivity and was fairly tame. On being approached it flew a short way out to sea, but quickly swam back to the shore. One of the men at last threw his coat over it. The bird has been accepted for the Zoological Gardens, and was despatched there to day (Jan. 23).'
D. Seth-Smith of the Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park (1917) in The Field of 10th Feb., Vol. CXXIX. p. 226, says: 'The Pelican captured at Whitstable, and recorded by Colonel Venables Kyrke in the Field of Feb. 3 as having been sent to the London Zoological Gardens, has proved to be a bird which had escaped from a menagerie at Margate, and has now been returned to its owners. The soldiers who captured this bird without injury, and fed it upon fish until it could be safely deposited in a zoological garden pending its return to its rightful owners, are to be congratulated on their good sense...'
0). 1919 Sussex Chichester Harbour, seen, July.
(C. A. Norton, Field 19th July 1919: 95).
History C. A. Norton of Emsworth (1919) in The Field of 19th Jul., Vol. CXXXIV. p. 95, says: 'A Pelican has been reported almost daily for the last fortnight by the fishermen in Chichester Harbour. I have not seen the bird myself, but there seems no doubt of its identity. I fear it will not long survive after August 1 when the close time for wild fowl ends. This note may be of interest to anyone who may have lost a Pelican lately.'
0). 1935 Norfolk/Suffolk Breydon, June to July.
(Piotrowski, 2003).
History Piotrowski (2003) lists one for Breydon during June and July 1935.
0). 1951 Dorset Lodmoor, Weymouth, about 1st to 21st April.
(M. Sackville Hamilton, Field 5th May, 1951: 706; K. B. Rooke, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 73: 193).
History Margaret Sackville Hamilton of Upwey (1951) in The Field of 5th May, Vol. CXCVII. p. 706, says: 'Can anyone suggest where the white Pelican which has been on Lodmoor Marshes, Weymouth, for nearly three weeks has come from?
It is eating voraciously, and apparently thriving. Contact has been made with London, Whipsnade and Bristol Zoos, and St James's Park, but none have lost a Pelican. Maybe through your paper we may hear of a collector from whom the bird had escaped. Alternatively, can this bird be a South European visitor to our shores?'
[No record can be traced of a Pelican visiting this country as a free bird. The more likely explanation is that it is an escapee. - Ed.]
K. B. Rooke (1951) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Vol. LXXIII. p. 193, under 'Report on Dorset Birds, recording the record in square brackets, says: 'A Pelican on Lodmoor (W.E.V.). April 7th (M.S.H.), reported to have arrived 7-10 days previously; subsequently seen by many observers; last definitely recorded on 21st (A.J.B., G.W.H.M.); indefinite reports that it flew out to sea that evening, and that it was seen 22nd-24th, but not later (per H.R.A.C., D.P.W.). One was seen in Poole Harbour, July 14th, flying E. and later W. over Wareham Channel (O.B., T.F.S, B.Sch.); on 15th, it was soaring very high (2000 ft ?) over Wool Bridge (P.B.S., P.B.C.) going N.W. (Lt.-Col. J. K. Stanford); on 18th, it flew from Arne across the Wareham Channel toward Holton (S.E.W.P.).
Detailed descriptions of the Lodmoor bird (A.J.B., M.D.C., G.W.H.M, D.J.K.W. et al.), particularly the flesh-pink legs leave little room for doubt that it was a Roseate Pelican. Its behaviour was consistent with its being a wild bird. Enquiries about full-winged escapes were negative, the only reported (Alphen, Holland) did not escape until May 2nd (per Miss P. Barclay Smith, Avicultural Society).
There are suggestive correaltions in dates with other reports of a single Pelican in S. England in 1951, e.g. Thanet, Kent, March 11th or 13th to 28th (per L. Sargent); Lundy I., Devon from dawn to 2.0 p.m., April 23rd (M.C. Harman, Field); Marazion Marsh, Cornwall (definitely P. onocrotalus, A. G. Parsons), April 25th at last to May 17th (J. Beckerlegge), and in the Hoyle [sic] Estuary, May 26th (J. Mitchell, Field). It seem not improbable that at least one wild straggler from S.E. Europe reached S. England, but it is impossible to exclude the chance that it was an unreported escape from captivity.
The species is not on the British List.'
0). 1951 Dorset Poole Harbour, 14th July; same, Wool Bridge, 15th July; same, Arne, 18th July.
(K. B. Rooke, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 73: 193).
History K. B. Rooke (1951) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Vol. LXXIII. p. 193, under 'Report on Dorset Birds, recording the record in square brackets, says: 'A Pelican on Lodmoor (W.E.V.). April 7th (M.S.H.), reported to have arrived 7-10 days previously; subsequently seen by many observers; last definitely recorded on 21st (A.J.B., G.W.H.M.); indefinite reports that it flew out to sea that evening, and that it was seen 22nd-24th, but not later (per H.R.A.C., D.P.W.). One was seen in Poole Harbour, July 14th, flying E. and later W. over Wareham Channel (O.B., T.F.S, B.Sch.); on 15th, it was soaring very high (2000 ft ?) over Wool Bridge (P.B.S., P.B.C.) going N.W. (Lt.-Col. J. K. Stanford); on 18th, it flew from Arne across the Wareham Channel toward Holton (S.E.W.P.).
Detailed descriptions of the Lodmoor bird (A.J.B., M.D.C., G.W.H.M, D.J.K.W. et al.), particularly the flesh-pink legs leave little room for doubt that it was a Roseate Pelican. Its behaviour was consistent with its being a wild bird. Enquiries about full-winged escapes were negative, the only reported (Alphen, Holland) did not escape until May 2nd (per Miss P. Barclay Smith, Avicultural Society).
There are suggestive correaltions in dates with other reports of a single Pelican in S. England in 1951, e.g. Thanet, Kent, March 11th or 13th to 28th (per L. Sargent); Lundy I., Devon from dawn to 2.0 p.m., April 23rd (M.C. Harman, Field); Marazion Marsh, Cornwall (definitely P. onocrotalus, A. G. Parsons), April 25th at last to May 17th (J. Beckerlegge), and in the Hoyle [sic] Estuary, May 26th (J. Mitchell, Field). It seem not improbable that at least one wild straggler from S.E. Europe reached S. England, but it is impossible to exclude the chance that it was an unreported escape from captivity.
The species is not on the British List.'
Comment The Kent (Harrison 1953) and Cornwall (Penhallurick 1969) records have been deemed a Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus that had escaped from Alphen, near Leyden in Holland. The Devon record is not mentioned in Moore (1969) or Davis & Jones (2007).