Spoonbill Incoming

Two days ago I watched this spoonbill take off from the salt marsh and I thought it would fly further out looking for a new feeding spot. But instead, it did one loop around and decided to head into the same pine tree where all the wood storks were congregating.

It was funny seeing the one wood stork (seen in the first three photos) watch the spoonie carefully as it approached but, upon realizing spoonie was not planning to land on his head, the stork lost interest. Then the wood stork on the right took notice, as well as the one under the spoonbill, and by photo 6 you can see the two above looking down on the expected landing. Finally spoonie finds an empty branch and settles in, but that apparently did not please one wood stork who felt the need to immediately leave the tree.

Soon after this I was treated to a rare display of affection by a pair of wood storks in the same tree and that series of photos is a post for another day…

46 thoughts on “Spoonbill Incoming”

Patrizia M. on August 30, 2013 at 12:31 pm said:

Sono stupende, che grande meraviglia.
Bellissime!!!!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on August 30, 2013 at 12:39 pm said:
  
  Grazie mille Pat! 🙂
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
monisertel on August 30, 2013 at 12:42 pm said:

Hello Phil,
amazing series, the 2nd photo is my favorit!!!
Wish you a nice weekend,
moni

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on August 30, 2013 at 3:54 pm said:
  
  Thanks moni glad you like these! Photo #2 is funny!
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
edithlevyphotography on August 30, 2013 at 1:07 pm said:

These are amazing captures Phil.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on August 30, 2013 at 3:54 pm said:
  
  Thanks much Edith I appreciate that!
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
pixelspielerei on August 30, 2013 at 1:28 pm said:

Spoonbilly seems to be constantly looking for a fight. Isn’t it? The little provocateur! 😉

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on August 30, 2013 at 3:55 pm said:
  
  He should be careful, he is outnumbered in a tree full of storks! 🙂
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
  - pixelspielerei on August 30, 2013 at 7:29 pm said:
    
    This seems to him not to be very clear! 😛
    
    LikeLike
    
    Reply ↓
    - Phil Lanoue on August 30, 2013 at 10:50 pm said:
      
      You are right about that!
      
      LikeLike
      
      Reply ↓
mariayarri on August 30, 2013 at 2:03 pm said:

I really like these birds … Their color as well as their face … I wish we had them were i live … And your photos of them are just great … // Maria 🙂

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on August 30, 2013 at 3:55 pm said:
  
  I appreciate that very much Maria, thanks! We love having them around!
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
lemanshots on August 30, 2013 at 2:16 pm said:

Eine gelungene Fotografie – perfekte Aufnahme! 🙂

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on August 30, 2013 at 3:56 pm said:
  
  Vielen Dank bin ich glücklich genießen Sie die Fotos 🙂
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Deb W. Trotter on August 30, 2013 at 2:25 pm said:

Another great series of photos of your feathered friends! How often do these shore birds hang out in trees?

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on August 30, 2013 at 3:57 pm said:
  
  Thank you Deb, glad to know you liked these spoonie pics! I don’t see them in trees very often and these are among the few shots of them in trees that I have.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Amy on August 30, 2013 at 3:14 pm said:

Amazing capture, Phil! It ‘s so much funny to see the wood stork reaction. The second one is just beautiful, Wow!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on August 30, 2013 at 3:58 pm said:
  
  Those wood storks are quite comical for sure Amy! I like photo #6 with the two peering down on the landing spoonbill and the other one with his yap open. 🙂
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Gunta on August 30, 2013 at 3:39 pm said:

I’m amazed that they can find their way to land amongst the branches given the wing spans. Great wonderful shots as usual!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on August 30, 2013 at 4:00 pm said:
  
  You should see the wood storks when about 60 of them are all trying to land and find a branch on a tree that could maybe handle half that many large birds. 🙂
  Thanks for checking these out.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
  - Gunta on August 30, 2013 at 4:02 pm said:
    
    I would dearly LOVE to see that!
    
    LikeLike
    
    Reply ↓
    - Phil Lanoue on August 30, 2013 at 4:33 pm said:
      
      Those wood storks are not much to look at up close they have a face only a mother could love, but they are elegant flyers and can be active and interesting birds.
      I have series of wood stork ‘love birds’ coming up soon. 🙂
      
      LikeLike
      
      Reply ↓
Cowboys and Crossbones on August 30, 2013 at 4:19 pm said:

I never realized that birds this big hung out in trees. Is that because I’m from Iowa and all we have are blue jays, cardinals and sparrows? Hello blonde moment 1,298,745. Jeez! I love the series – especially photo two. And as always…that pink text! Happy Labor Day!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on August 30, 2013 at 4:35 pm said:
  
  You should see when a whole bunch of them try to cram themselves onto sometimes shaky branches. It can be comical to say the least.
  Almost left off the pink text this time, but glad I went with it.
  Enjoy your weekend!
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
lylekrahn on August 30, 2013 at 4:19 pm said:

It’s like a stranger walking into a small town cafe – all eyes are on him.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on August 30, 2013 at 4:37 pm said:
  
  Well it’s been funny because we are convinced that many of the typical birds we might see such as egrets, herons, ibis, wood storks etc. have likely never seen a spoonbill and probably don’t quite know what to make of it. Some birds seem to walk around next to them in the salt marsh not even feeding just staring at the big goofy pink birds in bewilderment.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
dinajohnston on August 30, 2013 at 4:45 pm said:

Love the shots of life in the tree high rise!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on August 31, 2013 at 4:22 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much and yes life in the penthouse is always top notch!
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
foxleylady on August 30, 2013 at 5:12 pm said:

He must seem so exotic to them – they look very impressed! What a great series of photos!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on August 31, 2013 at 4:23 pm said:
  
  Some of those storks likely have never seen a spoonbill before and are very interested. Thanks Maggie!
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
HansHB on August 30, 2013 at 5:15 pm said:

Lovely serie!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on August 31, 2013 at 4:23 pm said:
  
  Thank you Hans glad you liked these photos!
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Twila on August 30, 2013 at 11:25 pm said:

Once again, another great visual story. Thanks for sharing! See you soon!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on August 31, 2013 at 4:24 pm said:
  
  I really appreciate you checking these out, thanks and I’m happy you like them!
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
janmasyn on August 31, 2013 at 3:52 am said:

Great shots Phil, excellent nature photography.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on August 31, 2013 at 4:24 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much Jan, I’m very happy you enjoyed these spoonbill photos!
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Steve Gingold on August 31, 2013 at 7:51 am said:

Is this the same guy making all the trouble in the pond? If it is then he is obviously nothing but trouble wherever he goes. 🙂 Or is that just typical spoonie trouble-making in their genes? Pretty comical collection, Phil.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on August 31, 2013 at 4:26 pm said:
  
  This was not our resident trouble maker, it was another individual. But those spoonbills can be goofy and often create problems without even realizing it. 🙂 Thanks Steve!
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Paula on August 31, 2013 at 3:04 pm said:

Marvelous action shots 🙂

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on August 31, 2013 at 4:26 pm said:
  
  Thank you Paula I appreciate that!
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
pviette on August 31, 2013 at 3:34 pm said:

Was he jealous, Woody, or just acting the snob ? You have daily entertainment there, Phil and it’s great you sharing it with us.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on August 31, 2013 at 4:27 pm said:
  
  No Woody was OK it’s just that not much impresses the wood storks, they are almost always quite stoic.
  I’m very happy you enjoy the views of life in the marsh!
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
crazytraintotinkytown on September 1, 2013 at 8:29 am said:

Clearly it didn’t bother him being the odd one out

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on September 1, 2013 at 1:33 pm said:
  
  No he seemed fine with being the only pink member of the club.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Kitt Crescendo on September 2, 2013 at 11:47 pm said:

So, so cool! I don’t see them in trees that often. 🙂

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on September 3, 2013 at 10:00 am said:
  
  I don’t see spoonbills in trees very often but wood storks spend a ton of time hanging around in trees. 🙂
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓