Pelicans in Illinois?

[AllegroRondo]

Went to Horshoe lake in Illinois yesterday, just across the river from St Louis. Spotted dozens of egrets, a couple herons, and what Im pretty sure was a flock of white pelicans. About 10 of them, very large, white with black wing tips, and the unmistakable beak pouches.

Checking the bird book (Im still new at this!) I see they spend the summer in Canada, and winter on the Gulf of Mexico - so I guess they COULD be pelicans. Any other possibilities?

[semillama]

1. Definitely White Pelicans.

You'd have to really try hard to turn what you described into anything else! They tend to have a pretty wide post-breeding dispersal. We have them in Ohio annually (in fact, one almost overwintered here until it got nasty).

Also note that since you are in St. Louis, you're about halfway between the breeding and wintering grounds, so you probably can expect to see White Pelicans every year about this time!

[AllegroRondo]

2. I figured they were following the Mississipi river south.

a lot of birds seem to do that here.

[semillama]

3. The heck with pelicans - apparently there's an Arctic Tern in Illinois right now!

There's been postings on ILbirds about an Arctic Tern hanging around Carlyle lake with a Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Terns, and Forster's Terns. If I were closer to Illinois and not married, I'd consider going to check it out (more for the Glaucous-winged Gull, which would be a lifer).