I saw one of my favorite birds, the
roseate spoonbill, in two locations on my January trip to Florida. The best view was a spoonbill at Merritt Island NWR. I saw it feeding on some mud flats and was able to get quite close and get it walking along in the mud.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_w8jyYo-LIgoI0WVhjiOApprUzRU7JMBRoUB9BSDWqJvFDWUIzER-IH7cH0AjM5Xhjg0mGoKUBepoZRYXkKO1o5w0EX7EnDa1L6zGyFX3tNplDcVEscAuRFVHU1sS3X6rixWblQsJbU/s400/2b2+spoonbill.jpg) |
I can't get enough of this bird. Crazy red legs, scarlet wingpatch, yellow blotch on the wing and on the head. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfjFoqF_q7AiN6rhsjTmUXkqHaJyE01ca5iRoY555Nk-B616soyB8E8MYnaEVJPKwQRdBFBeKGEievEQguoWA6RXjQ7tRTyIhPuReYCSizsE_9QkaBEcvSL4RUnuVKrL2Db1Z_ZPb8MU/s400/2d2+spoonbill.jpg) |
A closer view. It looks like a space alien wearing a plastic cap. |
A mile or two distant I saw a spoonbill in a canal among some other birds, including a great egret and a great blue heron. I got some pictures of it flying which I love.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskCPCYSTqVy5_rqB30SNbbVPexXzwVRD9fh3dZl3fJIgo3iOwttlYo0avnWYwT2h9cAu7xwPSeXWkqdgZuEqRKiHpfmi095tcjq38to4YjUdSrVEWwQ2B0LkvN3mNwTVSYExD-CqDMZM/s400/1c1+spoonbill.jpg) |
Looks like an odd pink angel. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-hqYF5Ci62Y1t_lS9LE-MabfvvkTV0gk30NlHrQS69EoWabdXcVJwnmeczly4rq6iMxcWrHXpdXKgTK04qsh-xLW9O4WsnJEtosdWert8lUeWaLL6Lxgg37oVQ_j_lYz7zWvBmWD79E/s400/1d1+spoonbill.jpg) |
Head stooped forward, legs dangling, it looks like an awkward old man. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSrswnD1Zuf7xL5TCZ_aW14arBJYruSihhIjIgpmKXm29HRU3K4T2ZLLVTnt5cC6OFPaKQ7gnCghfYR-Gl8vr26quv2Y2cXhCXMLhA3ymArhokXbExBuFHdnbXgMNm25WcIX5ObrNIuA/s400/1e+spoonbill.jpg) |
The shades of red, pink and orange are incredible. |
Finally, I saw a spoonbill at Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland. This spoonbill was not as colorful, evidencing that it was either a younger bird or had a less rich diet,or both.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8oRhjZOdwuecQRZMqG5_ODy2QiYYkOMWmh0Khubn-IRnQdIvJRZWJqtii6_aX0TJ4DEOpqW4ASkmkpwBopJhsIifMpIccCswXhpnLHBJ4cNMSEZrIjZCdk1y3adHdkCgD-5KbyYxuw8/s320/10a+crcle+B+-+spoonbill.jpg) |
Pretty tame when compared to the spoonbills above. |
It always surprises me to see such brilliant colors on birds in the U.S. If you'd shown me this picture and asked me where I thought it was, I wouldn't have said the U.S. Why is that?
ReplyDeleteI agree. The spoonbill is as colorful and goofy looking as any bird we've ever seen.
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