Time To Leave

Our surprise pink April visitor spent a couple of hours feeding in the salt marsh among the oyster beds yesterday afternoon. Finally he was full and decided it was time to leave, so he jumped off and flew across the marsh reeds heading for a quiet spot back in the swamp for a pleasant nap.

41 thoughts on “Time To Leave”

Gunta on April 26, 2014 at 6:53 pm said:

It’s a tough life…

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- Phil Lanoue on April 26, 2014 at 6:57 pm said:
  
  He ate so much small fish and shrimp I was surprised he even could take off.
  
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jussaraluna on April 26, 2014 at 6:53 pm said:

Hello Phil, wowwwww
absolutely wonderful !! Jussara

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- Phil Lanoue on April 26, 2014 at 6:57 pm said:
  
  Hey thanks a bunch! So glad you liked these spoonie pics!
  
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  - jussaraluna on April 26, 2014 at 7:02 pm said:
    
    You’re welcome! I Liked so much!!
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on April 26, 2014 at 8:06 pm said:
      
      Great to hear!
      
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Patricia Wood Warren on April 26, 2014 at 7:12 pm said:

Planning a visit tomorrow. Could you suggest the right time to be there? Never seem to get there when all the action is happening. Love the photos.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 26, 2014 at 8:05 pm said:
  
  Did you want to hopefully see the spoonbill? There is only the one. He seems to prefer the front end of low tide in the salt marsh. Low tide tomorrow is approx. 3:15pm but this morning he was in the pond earlier. So I would suggest showing up at mid to late morning and look for him in the pond first but then he will likely be in the salt marsh as the tide drops so around noon maybe. Wood storks and egrets and herons should be around then too and the pond is currently stuffed with alligators. I should be there late morning I expect. Have fun!
  
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  - Patricia Wood Warren on April 26, 2014 at 10:45 pm said:
    
    Thanks Phil
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on April 26, 2014 at 11:31 pm said:
      
      I messed up one thing though, low tide in the salt marsh tomorrow is 2:30 not 3:15.
      
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Vibeke Henriette on April 26, 2014 at 7:41 pm said:

Oh.., the color of those wings.., so beautiful!!!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 26, 2014 at 8:07 pm said:
  
  This individual is particularly striking and brightly colored! So much fun to watch and photograph!
  Thanks for looking.
  
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Steve Gingold on April 26, 2014 at 8:24 pm said:

Love the last one, Phil. Fine flight shot fully extended.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 26, 2014 at 8:41 pm said:
  
  Hey thanks very much Steve, that one is a fave of mine as well.
  
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Rexlin Victor on April 27, 2014 at 12:28 am said:

Great shots!!!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 27, 2014 at 10:29 am said:
  
  I’m glad you enjoyed the spoonie shots!
  
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Lyle Krahn on April 27, 2014 at 2:04 am said:

Fantastic shots. That is a lot of pink when those wings are extended.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 27, 2014 at 10:31 am said:
  
  It really is a big splash of pink when you see those wings out. Funny how much it sticks out among the muted colors of the marsh. Gotta love a big pink bird.
  
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sarathramakrish on April 27, 2014 at 2:23 am said:

I usually do not comment in blogs, but this is simply beautiful. The title name and the picture syncs poetically.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 27, 2014 at 10:35 am said:
  
  Well I greatly appreciate you looking and commenting and I’m happy you enjoyed the spoonbill photos.
  
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Dina on April 27, 2014 at 3:50 am said:

What a natural beauty!! Gosh, when I think about all the money we women spend on our hairdos…
Great, absolutely wonderful shots, Phil. Hope you’re feeling well.
Dina x

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- Phil Lanoue on April 27, 2014 at 10:36 am said:
  
  Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed seeing our bright pink visitor!
  Well this past week I developed pleurisy in my chest so the saga continues. Blah
  
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  - Dina on April 28, 2014 at 3:10 pm said:
    
    Oh dear, that sounds very unpleasant! I hope you feel better very soon.
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on April 28, 2014 at 8:27 pm said:
      
      It is unpleasant and at one point in the middle of the night before I found out what was bothering me I thought I was having a heart attack! Scary stuff but I’m feeling better now and still heading out to the marsh every chance I get. I can’t disappoint the alligators. 🙂
      
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anotherday2paradise on April 27, 2014 at 5:35 am said:

Gorgeous captures, Phil. Love that last one, especially. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on April 27, 2014 at 10:37 am said:
  
  Thanks much Sylvia! That last one is my favorite too.
  
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Edna on April 27, 2014 at 6:36 am said:

We ought to give this guy a name :D! Smart and spunky, by getting to the Marsh first before all the spoonie friends, s/he is basking in all the food…and attention…this paradise dotes on him!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 27, 2014 at 10:40 am said:
  
  Well we are 90% sure this is our favorite dysfunctional spoonbill from last summer, “Mr. Cranky”
  He likes it here, he is getting plenty to eat and actually seems to be fine with all the attention so hopefully he sticks around!
  
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Patrizia M. on April 27, 2014 at 4:14 pm said:

Assolutamente fantastici questi scatti, che ali rosa, wowww!
Sempre più bravo Phil, complimenti!
Ciao, Pat

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- Phil Lanoue on April 28, 2014 at 8:21 pm said:
  
  Sono contento che ti è piaciuto di vedere il nostro amico rosa! 🙂
  
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Angelia Sims on April 27, 2014 at 7:09 pm said:

He’s too cool to hang out long. He rocks the pink. Great shot!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 28, 2014 at 8:22 pm said:
  
  We think he left last night. No one has seen him at all today. I’ll go back tomorrow to look again but I suspect that’s it for now. Could be June until we see more but you never know.
  
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  - Angelia Sims on April 28, 2014 at 10:25 pm said:
    
    Was he lost? Poor guy. 😦
    
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foxleylady on April 27, 2014 at 7:25 pm said:

Such a stunning bird! Hope he stays!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 28, 2014 at 8:23 pm said:
  
  We think he left last night. No one has seen him at all today. I’ll go back tomorrow to look again but I suspect that’s it for now. Could be June until we see more but you never know.
  I’m glad I got tons of shots of him while he was here though. 🙂
  
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toughlittlebirds on April 27, 2014 at 11:36 pm said:

Love his yellow shoulders! What a looker.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 28, 2014 at 8:24 pm said:
  
  That’s the coolest part! Well that and his yellow/orange tail feathers! He really is an incredible looking bird.
  
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orofiorentino on April 28, 2014 at 1:54 am said:

Wonderful photo, magic color

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- Phil Lanoue on April 28, 2014 at 8:25 pm said:
  
  Thank you so much! Only nature could come up with an amazing pink bird like that!
  
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Linda V. on April 28, 2014 at 7:41 am said:

Beautiful!!!!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 28, 2014 at 8:26 pm said:
  
  They get amazingly brightly colored at breeding time and this guy is a terrific example of that!
  
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