2021: Photographic Year in Review
December 31, 2021 - Roseate Spoonbill at Stick Marsh Summer visits to Florida's Gulf Coast yielded my favorite Least Terns in all their courtship rituals, plus a few fuzzy and very cute babies!... Read more
Roseate Spoonbill
 | My name is very fitting for me – I use my spoon-shaped beak to fish for my food in the water. I’m a popular bird among bird-watchers because of my bright colors. If you see a pink bird flying overhead, don’t assume it’s a flamingo – it’s probably me! Most Likely Found: In a pond, In the marsh When: Year-Round Where I've photographed: Alligator Farm, Circle B Bar Reserve, Fort De Soto, Lake Apopka, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Orlando Wetlands Park, Polk Rookery, Stick Marsh, Viera Wetlands |
I have written 58 posts including a photo of a Roseate Spoonbill
Brave Spoonbill Guards the Entrance to LAWD
November 27, 2021 - An incredibly brave Roseate Spoonbill greeted me as I returned to the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive on Sunday.... Read more
Ducks Unlimited! at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
November 17, 2021 - This Roseate Spoonbill has appointed himself to the welcoming committee at the entrance of the drive.... Read more
Rainy Morning at Fort De Soto Wading Pools
August 15, 2021 - My disappointment over the weather faded the second I saw the Roseate Spoonbill in the wading pool...... Read more
Singing in the Rain!
July 29, 2021 - A flock of Roseate Spoonbills was hanging out on Wading Bird Way, foraging in the shallow waters along the edge of the trail.... The Roseate Spoonbill is the only spoonbill in the Americas.... Read more
Spoonbill Heaven at Stick Marsh!
May 1, 2021 - It's Roseate Spoonbill Heaven!... This Roseate Spoonbill was still showing pretty good breeding colors when he waded out into the water and started to splash around.... Read more
Easter Sunrise at Orlando Wetlands
April 28, 2021 - There were a ton of Roseate Spoonbills there, and it's been a long time since I've seen them in those numbers!... Read more
Cold and Breezy Morning at the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
January 29, 2019 - They made sure to point out the Roseate Spoonbill at the beginning of Welland.... Read more
Sunrise at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
January 12, 2018 - But when I saw photos of beautiful Roseate Spoonbills in breeding plumage at MINWR, I knew it was time for a visit.... Read more
The Fun Continues at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
June 16, 2017 - Highlights of this visit include baby Killdeer, a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron, a Roseate Spoonbill, and the ever-present baby aliens (Common Gallinules).... Next up is one of my favorite birds - the Roseate Spoonbill.... The Roseate Spoonbill was feeing in the same pond as a Fulvous Whistling-Duck.... Read more
Happy Mother’s Day!
May 14, 2017 - Least Tern Mother & Chick Roseate Spoonbill Mother & Baby Black Skimmer Mother & Baby Sandhill Crane Mother & Colt Great Horned Owl Mother & Babies Mute Swan Mother & Cygnet ... Read more
Migrant-Hunting at Fort De Soto with my Dad
April 18, 2017 - North Beach You know it's going to be a good morning when it starts out with a Roseate Spoonbill at the North Beach lagoon!... There were Laughing Gulls, a bunch of White Ibises (in brilliant breeding reds!), a couple of Marbled Godwits, a Reddish Egret, and the Roseate Spoonbill.... The…... Read more
Springtime Stroll at Circle B Bar Reserve
March 2, 2017 - Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Roseate Spoonbills - all in their breeding finery!... Read more
Incredible Photography Morning at Viera Wetlands
January 20, 2017 - I spotted some Roseate Spoonbills and got all excited.... I continued on my way to the Roseate Spoonbills, who were in full breeding colors.... Read more
Year in Review: Photographic Memories of 2015
December 31, 2015 - I felt her gentle spirit with me that morning as the billowing pink clouds reminded me of the Roseate Spoonbills that she also enjoyed photographing at Viera.... Read more
Roseate Spoonbills at the Alligator Farm
May 25, 2015 - To me it was wonderful, because it held a hungry juvenile Roseate Spoonbill...... I had a shot of a Roseate Spoonbill as he flew in and landed on a perch, but it was extremely backlit.... Read more
Fall Getaway to Fort De Soto
September 3, 2014 - In the lagoon area, I spotted three Roseate Spoonbills preening in the pretty morning sun.... Read more
Beach Bird Heuristics for Rich
May 10, 2014 - Even my favorite Roseate Spoonbills show up occasionally at Fort De Soto.... Read more
Springtime Bird Photography at Fort De Soto
April 15, 2014 - As I waded and enjoyed the great Florida springtime weather (yep, it'll last about two weeks and then be sweltering hot!), this Roseate Spoonbill flew in.... Read more
Year in Review: Favorite Photographic Moments of 2013
December 31, 2013 - Pretty in Pink Back in Florida, the Roseate Spoonbills put on a great show at Viera Wetlands while the Click Ponds were being drained.... Read more
Roseate Spoonbills at Viera Wetlands
November 2, 2013 - There are so many Roseate Spoonbills at Viera Wetlands right now!... The Click Ponds were recently drained, and the low water levels have attracted lots of wading birds, especially Roseate Spoonbills.... The Roseate Spoonbills are some of my favorite birds.... Read more
Black-Bellied Whistling-Ducklings at Viera Wetlands
September 17, 2013 - A pair of Roseate Spoonbills also visited while I was there.... Read more
Sunset at the Polk Rookery
April 8, 2013 - A couple of Great Blue Herons have fledged already, and my favorites, the Roseate Spoonbills, had several nests.... My favorite wading birds are the Roseate Spoonbills.... A lot of the Roseate Spoonbills that we see in Lakeland were born at Alafia Banks in Tampa.... Read more
Windy and Cold at Fort De Soto
April 7, 2013 - I gazed open-mouthed as a Roseate Spoonbill flew into the lagoon.... Read more
Foggy Mornings at the Circle B Bar Reserve
March 21, 2013 - I made my way to the Heron Hideout trail, where a large group of white birds and Roseate Spoonbills were feeding.... Read more
Cloudy Morning at Viera Wetlands
August 5, 2012 - My favorites were the several Roseate Spoonbills.... Read more
Father’s Day at the Polk Rookery
June 20, 2012 - The Great Egrets are the first to nest, and some of the last to fledge. It's interesting how the smaller birds, like Tricolored Herons and Snowy Egrets, start nesting later and fledge sooner, than the bigger birds. A couple of the fledgling Great Egrets were still hanging around on Sunday. …... Read more
Put Your Best Spoon Forward!
June 1, 2012 - I spent last Sunday morning at the Circle B Bar Reserve. Boy it feels good to get back out there! I was happy to find lots and lots of Roseate Spoonbills still hanging around off the Wading Bird Way trail. I counted over 100! These beautiful birds are some of…... Read more
Sunrise Wings at Circle B Bar Reserve
May 20, 2012 - I estimate that at least 30-50 Roseate Spoonbills were active this morning.... Read more
Silly Bird, Turn Your Head This Way!!
December 30, 2011 - There were at least fifty Roseate Spoonbills along the trail.... Read more
Alligator Farm Winning Photo!!
August 25, 2011 - Juvenile Spoonbill head shot I was a little surprised it wasn't my Roseate Spoonbill in flight, one of my favorite shots ever.... Read more
Productive Morning at the Viera Click Ponds
July 23, 2011 - Bird Species List: (36 total): American Avocet, American Coot, Anhinga, Black Vulture, Black-Crowned Night Heron, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Black-necked Stilt, Boat-tailed Grackle, Cattle Egret, Common Moorhen, European Starling, Glossy Ibis, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Greater Yellowlegs, Green Heron, Killdeer, Least Bittern, Least Sandpiper, Least Tern, Lesser Yellowlegs, Limpkin, Mottled…... Read more
Why Did the Purple Gallinule Cross the Trail at Circle B Bar Reserve?
June 26, 2011 - Limpkin Best of all, there were at least twenty Roseate Spoonbills roosting off Wading Bird Way. Most of them were pretty far out, but a couple stayed very close to the trail. One was banded! I spotted his upper band quickly, then waited for him to walk and tried to…... Read more
Cloudy Morning at the Alligator Farm
June 25, 2011 - Cattle Egret The rookery is definitely starting to wind down. A lot of the birds have fledged, although there are still plenty of chicks and branch-hopping juveniles. I've been watching a couple of Roseate Spoonbill nests over the spring, and a lot of those juveniles weren't around today. I guess…... Read more
Father’s Day at the Polk Rookery
June 19, 2011 - Least Bittern The activity at the rookery has certainly changed since my first visit, when the birds were primarily constructing their nests, and we had a single set of Great Egret chicks. Now there are only a few birds on eggs, and there are fledglings everywhere. Herman has counted at…... Read more
Tiny Stilts and Willets at Merritt Island NWR
June 12, 2011 - Baby Black-Necked Stilt I found these guys on East Gator Creek. First I located their parents by listening – the stilts are very loud when they are in protective mode. After I heard two adults fussing in a particular area, I watched for the chicks. I found these three in…... Read more
Birds and Babies Everywhere at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm
May 31, 2011 - Wood Stork chick The Roseate Spoonbills are getting bigger. I did spot a pretty photographable nest in a palm tree that had tiny little guys in it. I'll have to go back soon...... Roseate Spoonbill chick Finally, this Snowy chick posed in a nice window of tree branches. I think…... Read more
Spoon-Feeding at the Polk Rookery
May 29, 2011 - Herman took my dad and me out in his boat again this morning. The Polk Rookery has changed considerably since my last visit in March. Then the birds were building their nests, and Great Egrets, Wood Storks dominated the Brazilian Pepper. Today the rookery was filled with fledgling birds of…... Read more
Incredible Morning at the Alligator Farm Rookery
May 14, 2011 - Augustine Alligator Farm's bird rookery. It's right at peak season and the rookery, and the activity is awesome! Some Great Egrets are still building nests, others have tiny babies, and still more have fledglings who know how to leave the nest but still haven't figured out how to feed themselves. …... Read more
Mothers and Babies at the Circle B Bar Reserve
May 8, 2011 - Mother and Baby Limpkin https://vimeo.com/338669386 We made our way back out to the Heron Hideout trail, where we looked for Purple Gallinules (none today). Dyeyo spotted a lone Roseate Spoonbill flying over the marsh. I managed to get a few quick shots before he flew out of sight.... Roseate Spoonbill…... Read more
Spring Morning at Viera Wetlands
April 17, 2011 - Cattle Egret A Roseate Spoonbill flew past. We saw a total of three this morning (or maybe it was the same bird that moved around as much as we did?) Roseate Spoonbill Then we started crossing the cells diagonally and found a bunch of photographers watching a Great Egret nest. …... Read more
Beautiful Morning at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
April 3, 2011 - Lesser Yellowlegs Greater Yellowlegs Dyeyo probably wondered if I was going to stand there all morning, taking pictures of these five birds. He finally dragged me away and we continued along Peacock's Pocket, where we found two Roseate Spoonbills! They were in horrible light. I dialed in exposure compensation to…... Read more
First Trip of the Spring to the Alligator Farm Rookery
April 1, 2011 - My best shot of the morning was this Roseate Spoonbill in flight. He flew into the "sweet spot" of open sky with perfect sun, and the light glistening off his feathers made my jaw drop when I viewed the image in the camera. I love the orange on his tail,…... Read more
Let’s Go Build a Nest! (Polk Rookery)
March 20, 2011 - Augustine Alligator Farm Rookery, this one is totally wild. There were hundreds of birds there, most of them sporting their breeding plumages. We saw Great Egrets, Wood Storks, Roseate Spoonbills, Black-Crowned Night Herons, White Ibises, Great Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, Tricolored Herons, Little Blue Herons, Brown Pelicans, Double-Crested Cormorants, Anhingas,…... Read more
Hoodies at the Circle B Bar Reserve!
January 29, 2011 - Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks A Roseate Spoonbill was in his usual place on Marsh Rabbit Run, just past the "Four Corners" intersection with Heron Hideout.... Roseate Spoonbill We checked for the rails that have been hanging out at the Four Corners intersection.... https://vimeo.com/341231911 Species List: American Bittern, American Coot, American Robin,…... Read more
Bittern-ly Chilly Morning at the Circle B Bar Reserve
January 15, 2011 - Mottled Duck At least five Roseate Spoonbills were feeding off on the water.... Roseate Spoonbill A Pied-Billed Grebe fished right in front of the path, swimming right towards me as if to say "I'm not going to be outdone by those silly pink birds." I liked the reflection in the…... Read more
Another Great Sunrise at the Circle B Bar Reserve
January 9, 2011 - Ring-Billed Gull A group of five or six Roseate Spoonbills dozed close to the trail. We spotted them from a distance flapping around with their wings, but once we moved down closer to them, they went to sleep! We spotted a couple more spoonies a bit farther out in the…... Read more
Frosty Morning at the Circle B Bar Reserve
December 29, 2010 - White-Eyed Vireo Dyeyo joined me as I reached the end of the Marsh Rabbit Run trail. The first thing we saw as we hit the Wading Bird Way (well, besides the obvious pelicans and coots!) was a Roseate Spoonbill asleep on a pile of vegetation very close to the trail. …... Read more
What’s Going On Up There?
December 17, 2010 - American Kestrel Farther up the Heron Hideout trail, a Roseate Spoonbill was spooning in one of the few remaining pools. Circle B needs a good tropical wave to linger for a few days to raise the water levels in the marsh. For the spoonbill, I had to set negative exposure…... Read more
More Winter Birds Have Arrived at the Circle B Bar Reserve
November 12, 2010 - This morning there were at least one hundred birds, including five or six Roseate Spoonbills, and my first-of-season Greater Yellowlegs and Lesser Yellowlegs.... Roseate Spoonbills A lone Wood Stork stood in the midst of the action.... Species list: Anhinga, American Coot, Bald Eagle, Belted Kingfisher, Black-Bellied Whistling Duck, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher,…... Read more