Tag Archives: Roseate Spoonbill

Roseate Spoonbills

August 14, 2019 Ellen Jennings 5 Comments

More than other wading birds I see the Roseate Spoonbills often act like they are playing “king of the hill,” jockeying for the top spot or poking at each other to move along.

When pushed enough they take a less desirable spot on this little clump.

This pond is not tidal; the water level is controlled by the SC Department of Natural Resources and on this day it was high. There is an inlet behind where I was standing that is tidal and when the tide goes out the Spoonbills will fly over there to feed in the shallower stream. In the meantime they amuse themselves, and me, with tree antics.

May 2019, Donnelley Wildlife Management Area

Wading Birds

Rosette Spoonbill, Treetop Primping

April 22, 2019 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

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!

Wading Birds

Treetop Roseate Spoonbills

April 18, 2019 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

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.

Wading Birds

Under Wing Inspection

April 11, 2019 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

And the ultimate in flexibility as demonstrated by a Roseate Spoonbill.

Inspection done, all is good.

Wading Birds

Roseate Spoonbills In Flight

March 30, 2019 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

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.

Landscape, Wading Birds

Roseate Spoonbills on Foggy Pond

March 27, 2019 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

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

Reptiles, Wading Birds

Alligator Sliding Into the Pond

March 24, 2019 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

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.

Wading Birds

Post 999

March 11, 2019 Ellen Jennings 19 Comments

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!

Wading Birds

Lined Up in the Fog

March 5, 2019 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

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.

Wading Birds

Drama in the Spoonie Tree

February 7, 2019 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

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.