The Spoonie Tree is still standing, and a single Roseate Spoonbill was perched there on my last visit.
I took a walk down the dike and an hour later he was still there, and still alone.
Just checking things out.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
September 14, 2022
This single Roseate Spoonbill was wading in the mud of a tidal creek.
The tide had actually made the turn and at this point the water was only shifting around a little.
Spoonbills have a very narrow range of water depth where they can feed, having to do with their rather awkward anatomy.
This spot seemed to be just right
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area
August 31, 2022
The Roseate Spoonbill from my previous post hopped up on a small snag as the Tricolored Heron moved on. Being king of the hill or the first to occupy any object sticking out of the water seems to be a common Spoonbill behavior.
It was something of a balancing act as the upturned roots didn’t provide a perch that looked suitable for those feet.
He soon thought better of the idea and jumped down…
…making an easy water landing.
Black Point Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
April 12, 2022
Note: this post was supposed to get published this morning before “King of the Hill” and for some unknown reason is marked “Missed Schedule.” Not sure what is up with that, but here it is … I hope.
Wading birds often take advantage of another bird of their own or a different species leading the way as they feed.
It can work both ways.
The Spoonbill will benefit from the edible morsels that get stirred up by the Heron’s passing by as he sifts the water.
The Heron is looking for larger prey, which also can reveal their position as the birds wade around.
These two birds stuck together for several minutes until the Spoonbill got distracted by another activity, seen in my next post.
Black Point Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
April 12, 2022
A single young Roseate Spoonbill was feeding along the wildlife drive at Merritt Island.
The lighter color pink and still fuzzy head are the marks of a younger bird.
He wasn’t in a hurry, wading along slowly towards a mangrove clump.
Black Point Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
April 11, 2022
These Roseate Spoonbill chicks were about to get fed, and they were ready!
There were at least three chicks, the two in the middle and check out the lower left corner:
The way the adult facing away from us kept poking down below her mate I wondered if there was a fourth chick out of my view.
A little wider view showing more of the palm tree.
St. Augustine Alligator Farm, FL
April 13, 2022
This bowl of Roseate Spoonbills have found a cozy spot to hang out.
A housing development is being built behind this pond so it probably won’t remain a viable spot for the birds.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
May 9, 2022
Usually I crop bird-in-flight images rectangularly to emphasize the flight path, but this first image worked better in a 1X1 format because he was closer to the right edge of the frame.
So I picked out some others that also worked square to go with it.
The Skimmers are fascinating to watch, first flying so close together, then separating on some unseen clue.
This next one is not the perfect mirror image capture that I would have preferred. But I like it for the shadow in addition to the reflection, the second Skimmer’s wing hinting of more action, and the still visible furrow in the water where the first Skimmer had just lifted.
And I couldn’t resist another image of the Black Skimmer passing the Roseate Spoonbills.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
May 9, 2022
This scene greeted me when I arrived at Donnelley Wildlife Management Area last week.
It was hard to know where to look first.
The Roseate Spoonbills raising their beaks like this is often a precursor to flight, like a secret signal.
Sure enough, the crowd thinned.
These few stayed a bit longer, performing various stretches then the one on the left gave the signal.
