It's hard to pick a favorite bird when you live in Florida!
But I fell in love with the Roseate Spoonbill when I first moved here.
And we've only had a few sightings of this beautiful pink bird 'in the wild' over the years.
You would think you could go to the same trails and see the same sights but that's not at all true here in North Central Florida.
My husband and I went over to the Halpata Tastanaki Preserve and hiked from the Pruitt Trailhead a week ago and looked up in the sky and saw Roseate Spoonbills!
It was cloudy and they showed up nicely against the grayish silver sky. Later we saw another one fly over when we were having a snack.
Roseate Spoonbill flock, Cedar Key
I looked back at posts that have featured the Roseate Spoonbill and found the one of our sighting of a flock of them in Cedar Key, back in July 2012 HERE.
That was the first time I had seen them in the wild and I wasn't even sure what they were!
We can see them at Ellie Shiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.
This is a mosaic I made of photos we took there a couple of years ago and posted them HERE.
Close up of their feathers
So that was our excitement on Hike #104! We also had a really good sighting of an Owl but only one photo. I stood there and watched it fly by without even lifting my camera but hubby got one. It was amazing!
Owl in flight
I went back over to this trail a week later and didn't see any of the same birds. Time and chance!
Roseate Spoonbill
Hope you can get out in nature this week and see something neat. Time and chance...but you have to get out there often for that to work in your favor!
47 comments:
...pretty neat!
...pretty neat!
spoonbills are on my list of favorites too. the first time I saw them at Robinsons preserve I was shocked. I had seen photos but did not know they live here. that was way back in 2006 I think. they are awkward and a tad ugly but so very beautiful. love the closeup of the feathers. the first viewing I saw was a whole flock of maybe 50 plus and I was just amazed.
Even if we see birds at sanctuaries and bird parks, seeing one in the wild is always exciting! The sight of a Great Indian Hornbill in the wild once remains one of my best bird watching in the wild, and that magnificent sight is always collectible. The Roseate Spoonbills in flight were well captured, and the pink color is stunning!! I hope to see the bird again in the future.
They are stunning birds...the Roseate Spoonbill. What a sight to see them soaring up there with the clouds.
Por aquí las he visto blancas y me gustan mucho. Besos.
Unique and beautiful!
The day is more special when we sight a Roseate Spoonbill.
Wow, beautiful bird in flight! They are so graceful. A unique bird, I see why they are a favorite. Great photos
Hello Diane, :=) They are beautiful birds indeed. Your in flight captures are wonderful.
Their pink colour shows up well in the sky. I have seen white Spoonbills and think they are pretty awesome, but the Roseate Spoonbill is even more impressive.
All the best.
I think I'll have to pick those spoonbills too. What amazing looking birds!!!
Oh wow, those are beautiful birds. I am quite sure I have not seen any in the wild.
They are SO majestic in flight and so goofy looking when perched!! I have seen a few of them here in Lakeland and they always excite me, as do the wood storks and pelicans! Thanks for sharing the beauty!
Oh, how beautiful! I've never seen a Roseate Spoonbill in the wild. I guess we are too far inland here. But now an owl is a different story! I love to see owls, but we don't see them much here either. We can hear the Barred Owls at night quite often, but they are on the other side of the pond and out of our sight. At least we know they are out there. Thank you for sharing your beautiful sightings with us. Always a treat!
The roseate spoonbill is truly a beautiful bird.
You took really beautiful pictures.
Greetings Irma
Ik heb de roze lepelaar nog nooit gezien maar wat zijn ze mooi.
How wonderful to see such amazing birds. Those feathers are gorgeous.
"It's hard to pick a favourite bird when you live in Florida." Why is that restricted to Florida? Is it not equally hard to pick a favourite bird wherever you live?
Hello,
The Roseate Spoonbill is one of my favorite birds too. They are beautiful.
Great sightings of the Spoonbills and the Owl. Wonderful photos and post.
Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.
I think it's the coloring that makes it so striking. I may have seen on e once at the zoo but never in the wild.
I think it's the coloring that makes it so striking. May have seen one at the zoo but never in the wild.
Beautiful!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Spoonbills have appeared in nature areas we have visited in several parts of Florida, I think especially at the wildlife areas near Boynton Beach, and maybe Merritt Island. They are really spectacular birds! Your collection of photos is really quite impressive.
best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Beautiful photos of this very special bird. I love to see the pink feathers!
Happy weekend!
Pretty pink birds!! I've n ever seen those here-- don't think we have them. Hope your weekend is great!
Yes, I can see why it's difficult to have a favourite bird in Florida. I'm thinking mine would have to something small, colourful and warbly. But not pink - LOL.
wow ! the spoon bill sure is a pretty bird ~ great photos! Xo
Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days ~ Xo
A ShutterBug Explores ~
aka (A Creative Harbor)
You have everything in Florida, as far as nature and its critters go. I've never heard of this bird before. It is gorgeous!
Beautiful blog.
How exciting! That first shot is so fabulous.
I can see why the Roseate Spoonbill is a favourite of yours. Love the colour, and its shape. We can never count on seeing the same things in the same places here, either. Hiking is always an adventure.
That flying spoonbill is absolutely fantastic!
Beautiful bird indeed! Lovely captures!
They are just beautiful!
Cool post. Thank you!
Hello. Roseate Spoonbill is a special and beautiful looking bird. Wonderful photos.
Take care.
Oh my gosh, oh my gosh!!! Diane, this is the most INCREDIBLE blog in months!!! Absolutely extraordinary.
Once again,thanks for taking time to link in and sharing your blog with us at I'd Rather B Birdin'
Oh I know and Florida not only has a great number of wonderful birds it offers in so many areas so much! Not to forget the winters there are marvelous! Take care.
Truly beautiful birds!
The Roseate Spoonbill is such a fabulous colour - great pictures.
All the best Jan
I'm in Pennsylvania and have not seen any interesting birds this summer. Usually, I see hummingbirds and even unusual looking that I often cannot identify- but not this summer. Just bluejays, cardinals, finches, and crows. Your photos are wonderful and the Roseate Spoonbill is quite a treat to see. I'll be back in Florida for the winter and hope to see more interesting birds.
Beautiful colors on their feathers. How exciting when a day comes together like this. It's true, like you said, To see nature you have to be in it. I'm glad you had a good time.
Oh yes, these pink Roseate Spoonbills are really beautiful. I only get to see the usual birds that visit my garden.
What amazing photos. I love watching birds. My friend Linda lives on a Kansas farm , had three baby barn owls born in their barn. They were so beautiful. I loved how she was able to capture photo of all three together. My goodness I sure enjoy your posts. Have a lovely evening.
What an unusual and beautiful bird. The only Pink birds I know of is the Flamingo. Wow, they have dark Pink feathers too. I like the last photo of the two of them together, and the first photo is so pretty. She looks so graceful and elegant flying through the grey skies. : )
~Sheri
I'll never forget my first sighting of a Roseate Spoonbill -- at that time I had no idea that they even existed. Lovely pictures all. (And I am much more fond of the owl in this post than the one I thought I saw in your later post above!))
They are one of my favorite birds too! Great pictures!
a bird I have seen only once. Wonderful shots :)
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