The Jump Off

One of the most fun and interesting types of bird photos I enjoy taking are those of when a bird decides it’s time to leave and flies away. I refer to that exact moment as the ‘jump off’. I spend a lot of time observing and attempting to recognize certain aspects of a bird’s behavior, attitude and body posture, to predict when it’s likely to jump off, so I can hopefully be ready to capture this action. I blink or turn my head at that time and it’s over and I missed it.

This past weekend I was watching everyone’s favorite grumpy pink spoonbill when he started to have ‘the look’. I have seen this before and suspected he had enough of the crowd in the near corner of the marsh pond and was ready to head off on his own. Sure enough…he did jump off and I grabbed a few shots as he left. In the last photo, notice how just after he clears the edge of the pond around the reeds and enters open water, he flies by a group of egrets that appear mildly bemused by the sight of this odd pink bird gliding by.

37 thoughts on “The Jump Off”

Victor Rakmil on October 8, 2013 at 1:09 pm said:

That’s more egrets than I have seen all year! Another great series.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 8, 2013 at 3:30 pm said:
  
  Thanks much I appreciate you checking these out.
  
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meyer23 on October 8, 2013 at 1:17 pm said:

That’s a cool series. Love the first pic. It’s great.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 8, 2013 at 3:31 pm said:
  
  Glad you enjoyed it, thanks.
  
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Deb W. Trotter on October 8, 2013 at 2:21 pm said:

That last photo is stunning! Just perfect. (I notice in the other photos that the two other birds – wood stork and tri-color heron? – pay absolutely no attention to the departing spoonie. :))

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- Phil Lanoue on October 8, 2013 at 3:32 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much Deb! Yes there were quite a few wood storks and tricolored herons out there as well and they all did indeed ignore our departing friend. 🙂
  
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Lyle Krahn on October 8, 2013 at 2:42 pm said:

You nailed that wonderful action in every shot. I have noticed that jump off point and it’s pretty satisfying to grab it.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 8, 2013 at 3:35 pm said:
  
  Thanks I appreciate the kind words. It is interesting how you can sometimes read the body language and anticipate the jump off. Of course there have been times when they do everything exactly how I’ve seen it preparing to jump, then they apparently change their minds and go back to feeding or even a nap and I get skunked.
  
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Patrizia M. on October 8, 2013 at 3:04 pm said:

Una serie fantastica, ma ormai non mi meraviglio più, sei bravissimo è innegabile!!
Ciao, Pat

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- Phil Lanoue on October 8, 2013 at 3:36 pm said:
  
  La ringrazio molto per la vostra gentile parole Pat 🙂
  
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edithlevyphotography on October 8, 2013 at 4:13 pm said:

These are great Phil. The reflection the first image is incredible.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 8, 2013 at 4:14 pm said:
  
  Thanks a million Edith, happy to know you liked seeing these!
  
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The Dancing Rider on October 8, 2013 at 4:30 pm said:

A person couldn’t have arranged that last shot if they tried for the rest of their lives! Beautiful! Contrast between MG and egrets is really nice. I like seeing all the birds, and they sure do appear to be ignorning MG!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 9, 2013 at 1:00 pm said:
  
  Yes everyone seems to be ignoring MC lately. But I think that might be how he likes it. Glad you liked that last shot, the egrets look sort of funny standing there while MC flies by.
  
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pixelspielerei on October 8, 2013 at 5:14 pm said:

Your photos are so beautiful , breathtaking! So your patience has really paid off! ▲

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- Phil Lanoue on October 9, 2013 at 1:01 pm said:
  
  Thank you for the kind words. Sometimes the patience pays off but you never know with these birds, they do what they want even if it’s not what I want. 🙂
  
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Beedie on October 8, 2013 at 6:49 pm said:

Reblogged this on Mind.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 9, 2013 at 1:01 pm said:
  
  I greatly appreciate the reblog, thanks!
  
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Gunta on October 9, 2013 at 1:56 am said:

Utterly fantastic shooting here, Phil. You’re finally getting the hang of it! 😉

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- Phil Lanoue on October 9, 2013 at 1:02 pm said:
  
  Well I get lucky every once in a while. Thanks for checking these out Gunta! 🙂
  
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foxleylady on October 9, 2013 at 5:04 am said:

You really do have the knack of it! Beautiful action pictures, love the reflections and background, the last one in particular.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 9, 2013 at 1:03 pm said:
  
  Thank you Maggie I appreciate your visit and kind comments. I like that last photo quite a bit, the faces of the egrets are rather comical in a way. 🙂
  
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Cowboys and Crossbones on October 9, 2013 at 4:10 pm said:

Damn it Phil. I just was sitting here thinking how over Mr. Cranky pants I am when you go and show this beautiful series of photos and now I am swooning over his gorgeousness again (and the pink text *sigh*).

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- Phil Lanoue on October 9, 2013 at 4:47 pm said:
  
  That’s pretty much what happens to me every time I see the big pink goof. I try to tell myself he is so last month but then find myself taking yet another hundred photos of him. Sometimes he will turn his head and give me that ‘I’m so damn cute look’. So what… I’m gonna ignore that and not take more photos?! Not bloody likely!
  
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  - Cowboys and Crossbones on October 10, 2013 at 10:36 am said:
    
    That “I’m so damn cute look,” sounds awfully familiar. Does Mr. Cranky know Jack (or Ted for that matter)?
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on October 10, 2013 at 2:10 pm said:
      
      They all have ‘the look’ down perfectly for sure.
      
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Pride in Photos Photography on October 9, 2013 at 4:40 pm said:

Phil, I will never grow tired of the Spoonbills…no matter what their mood is. They are just lucky they are beautiful with their attitudes…LOL.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 9, 2013 at 4:48 pm said:
  
  I get help myself taking yet more photos every time one shows up. Plus the spoonbills were what started me on wildlife photography four years ago.
  
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melanie on October 10, 2013 at 3:19 am said:

magnifiques photos… bonne continuation & bonne journée! cheers! 🙂 Mélanie

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- Phil Lanoue on October 10, 2013 at 2:09 pm said:
  
  Merci beaucoup pour vos aimables paroles Melanie!
  Cheers,
  Phil
  
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Katariina Partala on October 10, 2013 at 2:20 pm said:

He’s sooooo pink! Perfect colour! 😀

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- Phil Lanoue on October 11, 2013 at 3:25 pm said:
  
  You have to love a big goofy pink bird don’t you?! 😀
  
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  - Katariina Partala on October 13, 2013 at 2:00 am said:
    
    Yuppp! 😀
    
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adinparadise on October 10, 2013 at 11:06 pm said:

I am in total awe of your fabulous pics, Phil. Love the ones with the wings like a beautiful pink cape. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on October 11, 2013 at 3:26 pm said:
  
  Well I let these guys do all the work and I just stand around hoping to capture some of it Sylvia! With a big pink bird in the area I figure my job is 90% done just being nearby. 🙂
  
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Paula on October 11, 2013 at 8:06 am said:

This last photo is glorious! I love the effect of reflections forming brackets for this magnificent pinky!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 11, 2013 at 3:27 pm said:
  
  I’m quite partial to that last photo as well. Thanks so much for looking Paula!
  
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