He’s Back! Mr. Attitude
Many of you will remember the spoonbill from a few posts back with the huge attitude that chased off his younger rival…well he returned yesterday afternoon and picked up where he left off. Oh sure, he starts off looking all cute and well mannered, posing nicely by the salt marsh reeds and then doing a little feeding. But by the third photo you can begin to see that ‘look’.
The look is quickly followed by the attitude. He starts in with a bit of posturing and getting dramatic, all the while continuing to feed on the numerous glass shrimp that are everywhere in the shallow water at low tide. Our grumpy spoonie seemed to get along OK enough with an ibis that was busy plucking small eels out the marsh mud, but then it looked like he had an issue with an egret and it was all downhill from there…
Immediately the spoonbill took off across the marsh and chased the younger spoonbill into a tree before finally leaving the marsh area entirely. He no doubt is on his way to spread around cheer at a new location. I’m sure the other birds will be thrilled to see him!
Phil Lanoue Photography 
That is one sick bird 😀 Funny to see that odd behaviour is not limited to humans only…
LikeLike
Oh there is plenty of odd behavior going on out there for sure. It’s a large part of what keeps me going back. 🙂
LikeLike
Lovely series of photos. Spoonie is a bit of a fave though, competes with our gaters for cuteness, well, if that’s the right word. Love the ibis and the egret too and the tree shot is great. Wouldn’t want that bill clamped around my wrist I tell you.
LikeLike
OK well I have to agree 100%, spoonies and the alligators are definitely tops on the cuteness chart. 🙂
I often wonder how much pressure one of those bills has if it did clamp down on you. I have seen ibis totally and easily dismantle a large crab so I guess they do have some force behind it.
LikeLike
Love all of the photos Phil just wish that I could have been there. Was hoping to go over today but with the rain don’t really know.
LikeLike
Glad you liked these spoonie photos, thanks Geri!
LikeLike
Sieht fast wie PRACHTvolle FLAMINGOS…aus??Das muß doch eine ART PELIKAN sein oder?HERZlichst ANDREA:))
LikeLike
Sie wissen wie Flamingos aussehen, aber nicht verwandt. Vielen Dank für das Betrachten dieser Fotos. 😀
LikeLike
lachhhhh…wie JETZT??
LikeLike
Sie sind immer etwas verrückt 😯 🙂
LikeLike
Die TIERE meinst du??
LikeLike
Bellissime, hai saputo cogliere dei momenti molto particolari e per nulla facile da fotografare. Bravissimo
Ciao, Pat
LikeLike
Grazie per le gentili parole molto su queste foto!
Ciao, Phil 🙂
LikeLike
Your adventures of Spoonie and the cast of characters (and they are ALL characters) might make a cool children’s book. Just a thought.
LikeLike
Oh we have plenty of characters out there that’s for sure! Children’s book is a good idea, thanks!
LikeLike
His attitude comes right through in the photographs. What a look on his face, third in this series. Wow. He is definitely an alpha male. Picture with spoonbill in the pine is beautiful — the colors and textures contrast so well.
LikeLike
He really did get that look which I knew meant his attitude was busting out all over and sure enough he had to fly over and chase off his friend. I don’t often see them in trees so that was the one good part about it at least for me anyway. 🙂
LikeLike
Beautiful shots, Phil. Love that of the spoonbill up on the tree. Nicely framed.
LikeLike
Thank you Gracie, I’m sure the youngster was not happy about being chased up a tree but it got me a shot anyway.
🙂
LikeLike
Great set of photos. You have to give him points for consistency.
LikeLike
Thanks and yes that is a fact, I have seen this same bird for several days and I think anti-social loner might just apply. Playing well with others does not seem to be on his agenda.
LikeLike
Phil he’s hilarious with all that gurning and posturing! Great shots as always.
LikeLike
Thanks very much Lucy and yes he was sort of comical to watch and chasing off his friend was typical behavior for this guy.
LikeLike
I think you have your Christmas card with the one in the evergreen tree. What a character.
LikeLike
I think that’s a good idea for a Christmas card Judy, it’s not often you see a pink bird in a pine tree. Crimson cardinals yes, but rarely pink. 🙂
LikeLike
Magnificent bird 😀 and brilliant photos. I enjoyed your narrative too, Phil!
LikeLike
Thank you Paula I’m happy you enjoyed the photos and story line. That was exactly how it all happened too, this guy is some piece of work I can tell you. 🙂
LikeLike
Beautiful photos and he does look like somebody you don’t want to mess with! Great colors in these shots.
LikeLike
It’s hard I think for a pink bird to look tough but somehow this guy pulls it off. What a character. Thanks very much Jane!
LikeLike
He looks utterly silly in the head twisting shots or was that some new yoga routine?
LikeLike
It was funny because he was making these grunting sounds while he was doing that, almost like he had a chunk of something caught in his throat. Or…maybe he was just posturing for the camera. 🙂
LikeLike
The Roseate spoonbill is a very nice wading bird, your photo’s make them even more special, excellent work Phil.
LikeLike
Thanks very much for your kind words Jan and the spoonbill along with the wood storks are some of our larger waders which we are always happy to see.
LikeLike
The photos are totally funny, lovely! And your stories are as well as nice! 😀
LikeLike
Well I am very happy you enjoyed the photos and story. I try to describe what really happened as best I can. 🙂
LikeLike
Oh yes, attitude is right. Wonderfully documented, Phil. He is almost comical.
LikeLike
Although he does have some serious attitude, he is also a big fun goofy bird to watch and photograph.
Thanks for looking and commenting Karen.
LikeLike
Fabulous shots!!!!
LikeLike
I appreciate that very much, thanks!
LikeLike
I always enjoyed seeing spoonbills when we lived in Key Largo but never had such a close look. Great photos…even with his attitude.
LikeLike
Thanks very much Karen I’m happy you enjoyed the spoonie pics!
LikeLike
Love these Phil! 🙂
LikeLike
Glad to hear that Adrian, thanks!
LikeLike
Gorgeous!
LikeLike
I appreciate that!
LikeLike
Turf wars!
LikeLike
There is always something going on with this bunch.
LikeLike
Those are some great action photos! Who knew the spoonie was a contortionist?!
LikeLike
Thanks Deb, and that guy was acting kind of funny when he was doing that. He was grunting at me and making odd faces. Maybe a shrimp went down the wrong way. 🙂
LikeLike
To see him on the tree, was the best for me… Fascinated me. But they are all great photographs as always,Thank you dear Phil, love, nia
LikeLike
Thank you very much Nia, I’m very happy you liked these photos!
LikeLike
You sure nailed his attitude in that first shot. That needs to be a magazine cover with the headline “He’s Bad!”
LikeLike
He does have a huge attitude and somehow manages to look bad even though he is pink. 😀
LikeLike
And has a spoon for a nose. Kinda like that song “A boy named Sue,” you just gotta be tough!
LikeLike
I love the “butter wouldn’t melt” look in the second to last pic!
LikeLike