The first one not to see the Red Wing Brown Pelican on Monday morning. Sometimes our best laid plans come to naught. I woke early Monday morning to check the reports. One just came in saying the Brown Pelican was still in Red Wing at 6:38 in the morning. I was 40 miles North of Brainerd and I thought it would be a safe bet to get to the bird. 3 1/2 hours later and 200 miles under my belt, I pulled up to the site. I use to live in Red Wing so it was an easy place to find. I saw two birders scanning the area intently. I walked up to them and they said they couldn't find it but we were all willing to keep looking. I made the remark I was not leaving until I found the bird. One of the other birders phone rang, and by the look on his face, I knew something was wrong. He told me the call came from a friend of his who saw a report that a Brown Pelican was seen flying over Coates. My heart dropped because I knew Coates wasn't that far away and how many Brown Pelicans frequent Minnesota. He also said the bird was on the fly and heading North. I ate my words and left without finding the bird. I went to Lake Byllesby, Coates and scoured the area, but it was like finding a needle in a haystack. Of course I was angry, I could have left my guests on Sunday, I could have gotten an earlier start, or I could have taken Hwy 52 instead of 61. Anyway the what ifs set in. I grumbled on and off as I made my way back only relieved by the sighting of a bird, but during the lulls I festered again. By the time I got back to the cabin I was better. I just had a day with the birds and they all don't turn out like we plan, but a day never the less. I read the reports and others said they couldn't believe the blind luck they had by spotting the bird in mid-air while they were en-route to Red Wing. Milt Blomberg called me from a jet as he returned from New Mexico. I told him my story. He reminded me of something Ron Erpelding once said: When it comes to birding and I am given a choice between well laid plans and luck, I will take luck any day. It seems to work for Ron!!!! Have a good day birding and go with what may come. P.S. I do feel a little guilty for thinking I should have left my guests on a Christian holy day and gone after the bird a day earlier. Sometimes when it comes to birding my priorities are a little amiss. Frank Gosiak Little Falls ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html