I love to watch any of the wading birds perform their preening ritual, showing off the flexibility of their necks. Add the pink and it gets even better!
Rosette Spoonbill, Treetop Primping
Tag Archives: Roseate Spoonbill
Treetop Roseate Spoonbills
I had been hoping to find some Roseate Spoonbills feeding in the pond.
Instead a group of six or eight were hanging around in some tree tops, probably waiting for the tide to go out so they could feed.
A couple of them were quietly resting while the others kept nattering away at each other and the tree.
They were grabbing the branches with their beaks apparently just for entertainment as they only eat crustaceans out of the water.
Under Wing Inspection
And the ultimate in flexibility as demonstrated by a Roseate Spoonbill.
Inspection done, all is good.
Roseate Spoonbills In Flight
About twenty Roseate Spoonbills circled around overhead appearing undecided on where to land.
Finally they picked their spots and veered off in twos and threes.
This pair headed for the tree line, and once out of my sight dropped down into an inlet.
Roseate Spoonbills on Foggy Pond
A small group of Roseate Spoonbills was standing around in the middle of the pond on a foggy morning.
Click image to view larger version.
March 3, 2019, Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
Alligator Sliding Into the Pond
When I saw the big Alligator moving I was ready for the Spoonbills to fly or the Alligator on the right to react. Anything.
No, this time the Alligator slid into the water without any fanfare; none of the other creatures cared at all.
Evidently the big guy didn’t have any cares either, and just floated in place once he cleared the bank.
Post 999
Word Press tells me this is my 999th post on Passing By Photo. My first blog post was four years ago yesterday and I’ve seen some amazing things along the way. It’s been my goal to share images that show the beauty of nature, birds and animals, and some non-natural things I’ve passed by, with a bit of text to give context.
Four years ago I could not image all of the marvelous things I would see and photograph, including Roseate Spoonbills.
I have great fun doing this and offer many thanks to all of you that have followed along, commented and liked my posts.
Here’s to another 999!
Lined Up in the Fog
After seeing the Tundra Swans in the fog we drove around a perimeter road at Bear Island Wildlife Management Area Sunday morning. We came upon this line of Roseate Spoonbills and pair of Avocents standing in a shallow pond.
The Avocets flew off and the Spoonbills milled around.
The fog didn’t dissipate much, even by 9:30 am, but the light was shifting and oddly the air didn’t feel wet. The Spoonbills didn’t seem to mind and performed their usual behaviors.
We have been seeing groups of up to 25 Roseate Spoonbills in a few locations in this general area. Interestingly they are all juveniles with fully feathered heads. As they mature over three years their pink color darkens and they loose most of their head feathers.
Drama in the Spoonie Tree
In my last post, Snowy Egret, Blue Water, I mentioned that the Snowy Egrets can be feisty. This action took place in the “Spoonie Tree,” so named because the Roseate Spoonbills tend to gather there as a second Snowy Egret came in for a landing.
Even though their perches were several feet apart, the incoming Snowy Egret was considered an interloper.
He who was there first drove the second egret off.
After the action was over the Roseate Spoonbill had a quick squawk, but otherwise didn’t move.
Roseate Spoonbills Wading In Reeds
A few Spoonbills were wading around a marshy area, dodging the broken off reeds, doing their thing.
Here comes another. I don’t know how they avoid getting impaled.
Everybody check the sky!
