Well THAT Was Uncalled For…
This past weekend we were watching an adult spoonbill fishing in the salt marsh with a younger juvenile. At one point the older spoonie decides to grab at the youngster’s tail for no apparent reason that we could see. The little guy lurched forward, jumped, and managed to free his tail and then quickly went right back to fishing as if nothing happened. The older bird seemed satisfied that he got his message across and ultimately just went back to feeding. I suppose it might be part of growing up… the juvies know they are going to have to put up with a certain amount of harassment from the older crowd and have already learned that the best way to handle the abuse is to basically ignore it!
Phil Lanoue Photography 
Hai saputo cogliere ogni momento di quello che è successo. Bravissimo come sempre, complimenti!!
Ciao, Pat
Grazie mille Pat Sono molto felice ti è piaciuto queste foto 🙂
LOL! My little dog does that to my bigger dog all the time…then when my bigger dog retaliates she acts like the wounded yet innocent party (BTW, unlike the little one, the big one knows her strength and never hurts her…just gives her a stern, physical “knock it off”). Animals crack me up.
Animals can be great entertainment for sure. (well for us) I suppose for them it’s life. 😀
Bellissimi!
Un caro saluto
.marta
Grazie Apprezzo le gentili parole 🙂
Honestly, if someone would do that with me, I couldn’t ignore it! I wouldn’t ignore it! 😛
The photos are great again! ▲
I think I might be more then a little upset if someone did that to me!
Thanks I’m happy you liked these!
Great sequence. At some point the older bird better be careful – the juvenile isn’t that much smaller.
He was at it again yesterday and it almost got him into trouble (see today’s post) but he is quickly making some serious enemies out there who will not likely forget his antics.
Just like our cats! Oh, I laughed so hard! Great capture.
Oh yes, our cats go at it as well! Thanks much!
What’s a little bite on the but between friends? 🙂
butt!
The funny thing is that must be the way they feel because they usually just go right back to fishing like nothing happened.
Was that Grumpy, or are all the elders like that?
Oh that was him all right! Check out today’s post for an even bigger altercation involving our resident marsh crank!
Does this mean he got goosed? Or they spooned???? LOL!!! Nice photos!
That’s a good question. 🙂 Maybe he did get spooned! Thanks for checking these out.
Very interesting. I’ve never seen that before. Cool shots!
Check out today’s post he was at it again yesterday and this time it really got serious.
Thanks, I’m glad you liked the pics!
Awesome, as always. Great shots. Love the story as well!
Thanks very much Twila so glad you enjoyed these, and these guys almost write their own stories when they start entertaining us! 🙂
Poor thing to have to put up with such an indignity!! Very nice photos, as always, Phil.
Oh and it gets so much worse Deb! Check out today’s post because he really went off the deep end yesterday!
Thank you so much I’m happy you liked these photos!
Great shots Phil, excellent job.
Thanks Jan, very glad you enjoyed these!
I haven’t seen a bite before like this one… 🙂 made me smile too… But dear Phil, as always what a great photographs you captured, fascinated me all these pinky wings… Thank you, love, nia
I am very happy you enjoyed these photos Nia and I thank you for your very kind words. 😀
Maybe they were hitting on each other? 😀
Hey you never know, the more time I spend out there the more wild things I see! 🙂
This truly is what’s known as the “pecking order”! The juvenile has found his place, for sure!
That juvie has to suffer more then a few indignities I’m sure but I suppose it’s all part of growing up.
Thanks Maggie!
Oh wonderful! 🙂 🙂
I am very happy you enjoyed these photos!
So cute, but you are right, uncalled for. I guess being a pest is entertaining for them. Nice photos to catch the action.
I think it is all part of a bird’s life in the marsh. In some ways these minor tussles may very well serve as entertainment for them. Anyway they don’t have a lot of options, they can’t just go in and by a movie ticket. 🙂
Thanks for checking these out!
🙂 It looked like the Juvenile was annoyed 🙂
Oh I’m sure he was but that’s just too bad, he has to put up with it. And besides, he didn’t even leave. 🙂
It must be really tough being a youngster out there in the marsh. I guess they learn a lot of bad behaviour from their elders. 😀
The youngsters look like they have to pay their dues and put up with whatever an older bird decides to dish out.
And I’m sure they pick up bad habits from their elders. 🙂