Shrimp On The Run
Yesterday evening we were watching this spoonbill feeding in the salt marsh between the oyster beds. A favorite food of the spoonbills are these tiny transparent glass shrimp that are often brought in with the tide. At one point spoonie got into a whole mess of the shrimp and they reacted by jumping out of the water and away from the pink predator. The spoonbill had the shrimp on the run and spoonie was on the chase as he followed them along the shallow water gobbling them up as he ran!
Phil Lanoue Photography 
Fantastico, sono talmente ottimi questi scatti che si vedono i gamberetti anche se sono piccolissimi.
Complimenti Phil
Ciao, Pat
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Sono felice potete vedere quelli minuscoli gamberetti e contento che ti piacciono le foto.
Grazie Pat!
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The living is good when the pickings are easy. For whatever reason, I always get a smile from a spoonie with its bill open.
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I know exactly what you mean about the open bill spoonie shots. Even though I have a bunch of them I absolutely have to take more every chance I get. 🙂
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I’ve never seen those transparent shrimp. If you hadn’t explained, it would almost seem as though they were weird water droplets. The things I learn here….. 😉
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I can’t remember ever seeing so many of those glass shrimp all jumping away from a bird like that, I would not have even thought it possible until I saw it. Ya never know what ya might see in WP land. 🙂
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That’s what makes it so great!
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Absolutely!
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You know I love my spoonies and pink text!
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Well yeah you gotta love the goofy pink birds. Doesn’t matter how many pictures I take, if one of these clowns is out there you can be sure I will be as well getting yet more photos. Plus I can’t miss out on one doing something cute right?!?
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Heck no you can’t miss out on doing something cute!
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Plus as you know they excel at cuteness. 🙂
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Those shrimp were really jumping, Phil. There’s a chain of fast food restaurants in South Africa, called ‘Gobble and Go’. Your spoonie pics just reminded me. 😀
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You know… As much as the spoonies would love it, I’m thinking that restaurant would be a perfect spot for our good pal Mr. A to stop in for a quick bite. 😀
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Hahaha. That would really frighten the other clientele away! 😀
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Or…maybe it would bring in the customers! People love alligators! They could try hiring one on a temporary basis to see how he works out. The first time he grabs a diner by the leg though I guess would be the time to let him go.
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These are amazing photos.
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Hey glad you liked them!
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Wonderful shots of this Roseate spoonbill.
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Thanks Jan, I photograph them every chance I get and hope they stay around a while longer.
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That is another detailed capture of nature at work. Amazing how those little glass guys go right into spoonie’s mouth! 🙂
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At the speed old spoonface is blasting that spatula bill around in the water those shrimp don’t stand much of a chance. 🙂
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Such fantastic detail, Phil! Beautiful light, as well!
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Thank you so much Maggie, and I got lucky with that early evening light because it changed very quickly and soon after I got these shots it became very dim out there.
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Watching those shrimp jump out of the water must be a sight for sore spoonie eyes! Fantastic shots again.
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Oh that pink spoonface bird was moving through the marsh like a shark through a school of mullet. Those shrimp that were not lucky enough to jump away became an instant entrée. Thanks for checking these out and glad you liked them.
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Great serie, awesome bird!
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Thanks Hans, they are fun to see and photograph.
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Spoonie looks pretty k.o., don’t he? Your photos are all the more vivid and again very nice!
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Well I very much appreciate your kind comments, thanks a bunch!
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I love their color, but still can’t get over the shape of their bill! Great shots!
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