He’s Still Here!
Well at the risk of boring everyone with yet another series of our favorite solitary spoonbill, I felt compelled to post these photos today. We hadn’t seen Mr. Grumpy in a couple of days and I began to get concerned that perhaps he had left us to spread joy and cheer at a different marsh. So last night we went out hoping to see our cranky friend but what we initially saw instead was a few juvenile spoonbills in the salt marsh. However, when we saw one spoonie and one spoonie only, fly into the pond we suspected it could be our resident loner and sure enough it was!
Once we got into a location with a good view of him that’s when the fun started. It’s possible he missed us too because he began to put on a show unlike anything I had ever seen. He kept raising up his wings and prancing around in all directions making sure everyone had a great look at his bright pink plumage. He walked forward, then turned and walked back. He walked to the right, then turned and walked to the left, all the while in full display mood. What made the entire event more remarkable was that it all happened as the sun was setting which at times cast a warm red glow on the bird making him even brighter then usual. Toward the end he looked back at me as if to say…”are you getting this?” I would have been happy to pay admission to this show!
Phil Lanoue Photography 
Congrats for the great spectacle!
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Thank you very much for looking and commenting Dana!
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Wow! A bully and an exhibitionist!! Fabulous photos, Phil. (Alliteration intentional!!) 🙂
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Thanks a million Deb! And he sure is both a bully and exhibitionist! 😀
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Best yet…keep ’em coming. Never boring!
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I’m so glad you are not tired of seeing this big pink goofy bird! 🙂
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Sono foto fantastiche, sembra stia eseguendo una danza.
Ciao, Pat
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Sembra proprio che è la danza. Sono felice che ti piace le foto!
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What a poser!! Love it. I love your comments about Mr. Cranky Pants!
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Thanks very much Patti! And yes Mr. Cranky Pants is a very… shall I say…unique individual. 😀
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BEAUTIFUL photos! And I hate to admit this to old cranky pants but he’s gorgeous. Gorgeous.
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The thing about this big goofy pink bird is that he seems to really be aware that he is rather impressive looking.
Well…once again, power to the pink!
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He really is a showman. I think he knows he is very pretty, but I wonder if he will ever get a mate being so grumpy. All the girls must be talking about him. Your photos will make him proud, oops, he already is proud of himself I think.
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Oh I definitely think he knows how amazing he looks. I have seen him act like this a few times now and for no reason I can see other then to show off. I have been watching spoonbills for five years now and this is a unique individual for sure.
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He may be grumpy,, but he is oh so beautiful!
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Yes the perfect combination (well for him) grumpy and beautiful!
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He’s so beautiful. And seems to have so much personality. Great catches!
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He does have personality and seems very self aware. Unusual for a bird. I have been watching spoonbills for five years now and this is a unique individual for sure.
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Wordless here, except to say that the fifth photo up from the bottom is my most favorite of him ever. It shows a side of him unlike all other shots IMO.
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Well I really appreciate you looking and commenting and I’m glad you enjoyed these photos!
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Kind of hard to be bored with shots like these, Phil. If available, keep ’em coming.
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Thanks Steve! I hesitate to keep beating people over the head with spoonbills but I also can’t help myself…when I see one or more I just have to snap more photos!
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So worth sharing! Second to last pose is great …looks like angel wings by the position. All have wonderful light!
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Thanks very much for your kind words Judy and I’m happy you like the pics!
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I’m gob-smacked! ;
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Well I’m really happy you enjoyed these spoonie photos!
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Saw your reply to one of my comments that he was back. Beat a quick path to you guys’ blog and was so thrilled to see these beautiful images. The sun on his coloring is gorgeous! Along with Mr. A., I think Alpha Spoonie is favorite. No way could shots like these ever be boring! 🙂
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I’m so happy you came back to view yet another installment in the life of our resident cranky pink show off!
Glad you are not tired of seeing the photos, I can’t help myself when I see him I just have to snap more pics!
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It’s so great for you guys to see him in person. So not tired of seeing him. The more the better. Can’t get over how his machismo comes through in the photos!
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Glad to hear you are still enjoying seeing our pink friends!
But I think I just might feature Mr. A today. 🙂
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Drool! (That’s terrible, I know, but I do really like Mr. A.)
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Well Mr. Cranky Pants was back in the salt marsh today and I got tons of photos of him!
(Once again, I couldn’t help myself)
He was behaving himself too although the other spoonbills avoided him. And yes indeed looks like we have a photo of our pal Mr. A up for today’s post. 🙂
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OMG these are awesome. Even if he has issues, he sure knows how to show off…
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So glad you enjoyed these, thanks! Yes indeed he has issues and being a huge show off is likely one of them!
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Such pretty colors with the sunlight!
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I’m very happy you liked these Rick and that setting sunlight really helped our pink friend look even better.
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He’s a poser. But a vute one. 😉
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Oh he is a cute poser for sure! 😀
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You definitely bring out the best in him!
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He is really amazing looking and acting. I have been watching spoonbills for five years now and this is a unique individual for sure.
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Beautiful captures and wonderful light.
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Thanks so much Jan glad you enjoyed these.
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Hello Phil,
congrats for this stunning series, wonderful pictures, sensational light and colors,
love it all!!!
Wish you a nice saturday
moni
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I greatly appreciate your very kind comments moni thanks!
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Incredible pictures, I wish I could see birds like those. 🙂
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I’m very glad you liked these pictures and it is a fun bird to watch and photograph!
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Oh Phil, these are something else! I think he can be forgiven anything, when he looks like that! I love the last one in particular, because he looks quite coy (unusual for him!).
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Thanks a million Maggie I’m so happy you liked these photos of our resident pink pain in the butt. But yes you have to forgive his actions because he looks so darn good!
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Well, isn’t he bein’ Mr. Showoff? I wonder if it works for the lady spoonbills? 🙂
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He is a showoff for sure and we never know if it attracts females because he always chases everyone away.
Goofy bird. 🙂
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Poor guy. Maybe you’d better send down the bird psychologist to have a little chat. 🙂
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He might benefit from a bit of therapy. 🙂
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The colors and the lighting is superb. this is an excellent series.
Sadly, my local marsh is completely barren — not a bird in sight. Thanks for the show!
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Thanks a million for looking and commenting Larry, I really appreciate it and I’m glad you liked these photos!
Sorry to hear you have alack of activity in your marsh right now. We are hit and miss here.
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And still performng! What a ham 🙂
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He is some piece of work that’s for sure! Thanks very much for looking and commenting!
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Wow! Phil these are spectacular! Beautiful warm light.
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Thank you Lucy and yes that warm setting sunlight really arrived at the right time.
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Gorgeous light 🙂 Your beautiful poser has given his best performance!
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We could not believe the show he was putting on and he seemed to be doing it just for the attention. We know they can hear the camera clicks and wonder if they like it for some odd reason.
Plus we were very happy with the warm setting sunlight.
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🙂 I am glad Phil 🙂
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I was quite happy as well Paula. 🙂
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What a gorgeous bird. I am birder and have only seen one or two in the wild and that was many years ago. My hubby and I travel to Florida for two months during the winter and I would love to first see them and second to be able to take a few shots. Your photography is wonderful! I love all the images, but really enjoyed the last image of him looking back. So many wonderful and different expressions of their behavior. Beautiful images!!
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I am so glad you enjoy the spoonbill photos, they are very interesting and unique birds and we really love watching and photographing them. I hope you get to see some soon. If you can get to the Myrtle Beach SC area now I bet I can show you some. 🙂 In fact I’m heading out later today to see if I can find them again.
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Phil, this bird is so beautiful – and your images of him so wonderful – that how could anyone possibly get bored with this subject? I especially love that last image. What a great show he put on for you – thanks for sharing it!
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Wow Laurie, I greatly appreciate your very kind comments and I’m thrilled you enjoy seeing the spoonbills!
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Wonderful show…and I also love the sunset glows! Beautiful shots!
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Thanks very much and that setting sunlight sure added an extra touch to the lighting which I was happy about.
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Fantastic shots Phil. His coloring couldn’t have been prettier and the sun added to his beauty. I’m sure he did put on a good show for all.
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It was a lot of fun to see Diana! Thank you for looking and commenting!
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I love the one with his “angel wings”. TY for sharing
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Phil, these are stupendous photos ! The warm glow on his already wonderful pink plumage is just stunning. And the look he gives you in that last photo … Are you sure it’s a “he” ? That really is a “May West Look”. 🙂
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The light is outstanding, Phil. These are incredibly beautiful. I always enjoy your narratives, too!
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