By DickDaniels (http://carolinabirds.org/) (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus

Status

Category D & E

Native Range

Africa, Europe and Asia. Breeds in SE Europe eastwards to Kazakhstan and winters in Africa the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

British Occurrence

NBN atlas has 207 records as at end 2024. Map Here.

15 records between 1906 and 1977

1 Breydon Water, Norfolk July 1906 (seen flying in off the sea)

1 Breydon Water, Norfolk September 1915, June-July 1935 and July 1964 to January 1965.

3 at Breydon Water, Norfolk 31st August to 2nd September 1971

1 in Essex, Kent and Humberside in 1975 was admitted to Category D. Others seen in 1964 and 2006 were thought to be of captive origin and placed in Category E.

Where to see Great White Pelican in captivity

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Sources

BOURC 38th Report

Vinicombe K. Birdwatch September 2001 pp 22-23