Nobody Likes A Muddy Fish

Yesterday morning we were watching a small group of white ibis fishing in the salt marsh at low tide. Normally, the ibis only catch and eat small fish, shrimp or other tiny marine crustaceans. But this one boy caught himself a nice size fish which would make an outstanding meal. However, after he took it out of the water and brought it on land to eat, he unfortunately dropped the fish into the mud. Well this is no good…no one wants to eat a muddy fish! So he brought it back over to the water to give it a quick rinse. Once that was accomplished, he proudly showed off his nice clean, bright, fish to his friends!

64 thoughts on “Nobody Likes A Muddy Fish”

Patrizia M. on October 25, 2012 at 11:44 am said:

Splendida sequenza, sei un fotografo eccezionale. Complimenti
Ciao, Pat

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- Phil Lanoue on October 25, 2012 at 5:44 pm said:
  
  Hi Pat!
  La ringrazio molto per le sue gentili parole!
  
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Gracie on October 25, 2012 at 11:49 am said:

Wow! Wonderful capture, Phil! I love you stayed on to capture all that action. Makes a great story!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 25, 2012 at 5:45 pm said:
  
  Thanks Gracie! So glad you liked these pics!
  
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Chillbrook on October 25, 2012 at 11:51 am said:

Great sequence Phil. Obviously quite a fastidious ibis given that his long bill is specially designed for poking around in the mud. Must be used to the taste by now. Then again, a clean fish will probably get you a bit more attention from the ladies.. 😉

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- Phil Lanoue on October 25, 2012 at 5:46 pm said:
  
  Thank you for checking out the ibis photos! We usually call them “muddy ibis” because they are mostly poking those long curved bill around in the mud.
  
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Sid Dunnebacke on October 25, 2012 at 11:53 am said:

I’m enjoying how you don’t merely capture an animal in your photos – in them there are stories and glimpses into the creatures’ lives. Wicked cool.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 25, 2012 at 5:47 pm said:
  
  Well I appreciate that Sid! I’m happy you like the stories with the photos!
  
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rebeldogs55 on October 25, 2012 at 11:53 am said:

Wow! What wonderful captures!! I have NEVER seen an Ibis with a catch that size! And how proud he looks of himself!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 25, 2012 at 5:48 pm said:
  
  Thanks a million Molly! I rarely see an ibis even attempt a fish like that, but after this guy did it he sure did look proud! 😀
  
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Maleea on October 25, 2012 at 12:39 pm said:

He even looks like he’s smiling. LOL

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- Phil Lanoue on October 25, 2012 at 5:48 pm said:
  
  He’s likely very happy, that is a nice meal for him. 🙂
  
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meyer23 on October 25, 2012 at 12:57 pm said:

Storytelling pics. It’s wonderful.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 25, 2012 at 5:49 pm said:
  
  Thanks for the kind words!
  
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starlaschat on October 25, 2012 at 1:17 pm said:

That is a nice fish! Funny that he would take it down to the water to rinse it off and show it offer clever.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 25, 2012 at 5:50 pm said:
  
  He liked this fish so much that he felt the need to polish it up nice to show it off to his friends!
  
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  - starlaschat on October 25, 2012 at 5:52 pm said:
    
    It was a mighty fine fish indeed no wonder he polished it up I would have polished up too. :+)
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on October 25, 2012 at 6:01 pm said:
      
      Oh well sure, you do want your gourmet cuisine to be presented in an appealing manner. 😀
      
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      - starlaschat on October 25, 2012 at 6:04 pm said:
        
        I’ll remember these pictures next time I catch a fish! :+)
        
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        Phil Lanoue on October 25, 2012 at 6:28 pm said:
        
        Be sure to bring along a food stylist if you plan to photograph the fish. 😀
        
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Country's Mama on October 25, 2012 at 1:19 pm said:

As usual fantastic photos, interesting and entertaining story. Thank you for sharing these.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 25, 2012 at 5:50 pm said:
  
  I’m very glad you enjoyed these CM!
  
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lylekrahn on October 25, 2012 at 2:29 pm said:

That’s funny – another great story to match the photos. You keep coming back with great stuff from your famous salt marsh. Just curious, how big is that area?

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- Phil Lanoue on October 25, 2012 at 5:53 pm said:
  
  Hey that really makes me happy to know you enjoyed the story and pics!
  The salt marsh area is fairly large and comprises only a part of the entire inlet which is fed from the ocean.
  Plus there is a large pond and also a swamp area, plus the beach. Lots going on.
  
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  - lylekrahn on October 25, 2012 at 6:41 pm said:
    
    Sounds like an awesome place. You’ve certainly done amazingly well with finding images.
    
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crazytraintotinkytown on October 25, 2012 at 2:33 pm said:

You have to admire his peserverance

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- Phil Lanoue on October 25, 2012 at 5:53 pm said:
  
  Yeah he stuck with it for sure!
  
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Erga on October 25, 2012 at 3:59 pm said:

Great shots! I’d never thought that the birds washed their food before eating. They are not dumb…

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- Phil Lanoue on October 25, 2012 at 5:54 pm said:
  
  Surprisingly, many birds will wash their food before eating it. I have video of a bird washing off a dragonfly before eating that. 😀
  Thanks I’m glad you like the photos!
  
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  - Erga on October 26, 2012 at 2:15 am said:
    
    Wow, that’s pretty cool!
    
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dinajohnston on October 25, 2012 at 4:43 pm said:

Wow, I’ve never seen that done before. Or maybe I wasn’t paying attention. Good catch!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 25, 2012 at 5:56 pm said:
  
  We often see the GBHs and egrets wash off a muddy fish or eel before swallowing it down. They must all learn it from watching the others. 😀
  Thanks for looking Dina!
  
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Bella Remy Photography on October 25, 2012 at 5:16 pm said:

He can come to my house and clean fish anytime ! Great job and I really do love how your photos tell such wonderful stories.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 25, 2012 at 5:57 pm said:
  
  Thank you Bella, I’m glad you liked this story and photo sequence! Those ibis are not normally too clean themselves though. 🙂 They spend a lot of time in the mud, they just don’t want to eat the mud.
  
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  - Bella Remy Photography on October 25, 2012 at 6:18 pm said:
    
    Can’t blame them. Never did eat mud pies when I was a kid.
    
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Angelia Sims on October 25, 2012 at 5:22 pm said:

I feel his pain. I often drop my food too. It’s a two-second rule, a little rinse and, it’s all good. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on October 25, 2012 at 5:58 pm said:
  
  Exactly! A quick rinse and you are good to go! 😀
  
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Gunta on October 25, 2012 at 5:27 pm said:

What? No alligator? 😉

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- Phil Lanoue on October 25, 2012 at 5:58 pm said:
  
  Oh I got alligators! Even from yesterday. How many you want? 😀
  
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  - Gunta on October 25, 2012 at 6:02 pm said:
    
    😉
    
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Gareth Rasberry on October 25, 2012 at 5:41 pm said:

Thta’s a big one! Nice catch

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- Phil Lanoue on October 25, 2012 at 5:59 pm said:
  
  Thanks for checking these out Gareth!
  
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Kitt Crescendo on October 25, 2012 at 5:41 pm said:

Love how rapid shot allows for the story to unfold… Very cool!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 25, 2012 at 5:59 pm said:
  
  Glad you enjoyed the pics! Thanks for looking and commenting!
  
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HansHB on October 25, 2012 at 6:22 pm said:

Awesome post!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 25, 2012 at 6:26 pm said:
  
  Thanks much Hans!
  
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allsortsofhope13 on October 25, 2012 at 8:28 pm said:

Well, I guess it’s not the size of the fish .. oh n/m . 😉 Love water reflection pics that show other “stuff” . ( have I said that before?) Can’t imagine living somewhere with all this action. What a treasure.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 26, 2012 at 4:11 pm said:
  
  Heh heh 😛 Thanks for checking out these pics and glad you like them! I enjoy going out and trying to find all these wacky critters!
  
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Shelley on October 25, 2012 at 8:43 pm said:

In that last shot he looks like he’s dancing a jig.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 26, 2012 at 4:12 pm said:
  
  He does look like he has his right foot out…probably happy enough with that fish to dance. 😀
  
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janmasyn on October 26, 2012 at 3:43 am said:

Fantastic story and pictures.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 26, 2012 at 4:13 pm said:
  
  I’m really happy you liked the story and pics!
  
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thehappyhugger on October 26, 2012 at 5:23 am said:

How clever of him! Loved the sequence 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on October 26, 2012 at 4:13 pm said:
  
  Smart little guy isn’t he?! Thanks for checking these out!
  
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niasunset on October 26, 2012 at 6:58 am said:

WOW! This is amazing… Fascinated me. Thank you dear Phil, love, nia

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- Phil Lanoue on October 26, 2012 at 4:14 pm said:
  
  Thank you so much Nia! I am happy you enjoyed these photos!
  
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suburbanferndaleark on October 26, 2012 at 12:27 pm said:

Nobody likes mud breath! 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on October 26, 2012 at 4:15 pm said:
  
  Nooooo mud breath is not good for anybody. 😀
  
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Katariina Partala on October 28, 2012 at 5:08 am said:

Hahahahaha what a clever bird! :p

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- Phil Lanoue on November 1, 2012 at 7:41 pm said:
  
  Oh he is a smart guy alright! 😀
  
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  - Katariina Partala on November 2, 2012 at 12:20 pm said:
    
    Yes, for sure!!! 😀
    
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Scott Marshall on November 1, 2012 at 7:17 pm said:

how did I miss this – as Chillbrook commented what a bl**dy sequence – unreal

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- Phil Lanoue on November 1, 2012 at 7:41 pm said:
  
  Thanks a million Scott! I appreciate you looking and commenting!
  
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Animal Log on November 7, 2012 at 10:45 pm said:

Such an amazing capture! What a clever bird!!

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