Tuesday, April 26, 2011

DAY DREAMING WITH THE LOVIN SPOONBILLS

Good day everyone. First, I want to thank everyone who responded to yesterday's post. Collaborating with Rimly was a great experience, seeing one of my images paired with the words of such a talented poetess. It is something I would like to continue featuring on a weekly or monthly basis. I have added Rimly's blog 'Journey' to my blog list on this blog. I had some inquires on the flashlight we used to light the image used with Rimly's poem. It is for sale from Amazon at our carousel to the left of these words.

As the readers of this blog know Phyllis and I visited the St. Augustine's Alligator Farm earlier this month. We really enjoy photographing the birds in their natural settings. One of the birds that we had the opportunity to photograph was the Roseate Spoonbill. I spent quite a few minutes photographing these colorful and interesting looking birds with their unusual bills. The Roseate Spoonbill is 80 cm (31 in) tall, with a 120–130 cm (47–51 in) 
wingspan. It has long legs, a long neck, and a long, spatulate bill. Adults have a bare greenish head ("golden buff" when breeding) and a white neck, back, and breast (with a tuft of pink feathers in the center when breeding), and are otherwise a deep pink. The bill is grey.



Like the flamingo, their pink color is diet-derived, consisting of the carotenoid pigment canthaxanthin. Another carotenoid, astaxanthin, can also be found deposited in flight and body feathers.[4] The colors can be darker, such as magenta, ruby and carmine, depending on age and location.

 By the way I asked the farm about the leg band and was told the  
 Florida Audubon put it on the spoonbill. 


As I have explained in an earlier post, it takes a lot of patience to photograph in nature. As I was standing around waiting for the Spoonys and the light to cooperate, I started to day dream.  When I did start day dreaming, the songs of one of my favorite groups popped into my head; The LOVIN SPOONFULS, hmm I wonder why their songs started playing in my head.

What a day for a daydream
What a day for a day dreaming boy
And I'm lost in a day dream
Dreamin bout my bundle of joy

These birds are so very colorful it is seems like something out of  Disney.You might be wondering why the name spoonbill. Hopefully this image explains it.


 As you can see, it is appropriate, it looks like a long spoon. They use this bill to scoop up food from the shallow coastal waters they walk in. Many times they fish in groups swinging their heads back and forth scooping out crustaceans, bugs, beetles and even small fish. These colorful birds look almost magical with their red feathers glistening in the sunlight. I could watch them all day, and did!!! I wonder could you??

I'll tell you about the magic and it'll free your soul.
But it's like telling a stranger about Rock and Roll




The Spoonbills were there to meet, court and mate. You could see the males flying from one tree to another, trying to convince a female that he was the right one for her. You ladies know what I am talking about right? Just another night at a club, listening to some guy's sweet talk.

You're one of those girls who seems to come in the spring
One look in her eyes and you forget everything
A younger girls keeps rolling across my mind
I remember your eyes, soft dark and brown
A younger girls keeps rolling across my mind




As I finish today's blog, I again want to thank all you readers for your very kind words and support. You didn't have to be so nice but it sure is great that you are.

You didn't have to be so nice
I would have liked you anyways
If you had just looked once or twice 
and gone upon your quiet way
Today I said the time was right for me to follow you
I knew I'd find you in a day or two
And its true








14 comments:

Alpana Jaiswal said...

I have never seen these before...they look magnificent."In order to see birds it is necessary to become part of the silence" - Robert Lynd
I can understand as to how hard you must be working to get something so good.

alejandro guzman said...

True Dinosaurs they are! Brilliant pics PHSH?

Lol

A

Anonymous said...

WOW! They are absolutely stunning birds! Love the colors! Great photos! Have a great day!

Thosewerethedays said...

These pictures are really awesome. You were really able to get close to take these pics. Florida does have some beautiful birds some of them I have never seen before. Great shots! And the song from the loving spoonfulls..love that one!

Mari Sterling Wilbur said...

Beautiful pink birds against the beautiful blue sky! And you've caught them in such lovely poses! Great work!

Nelieta said...

Jim you did great at capturing these beautiful birds. I like the one with the wings open. Beautiful colours!

Ann said...

I like the one of the spoonbill on the log with it's mouth open like it's eating part of your name!

Alfandi said...

beautiful birds..wish I'm there to see them up close..nice photos as always..

Jorie Pacli said...

Bbbbbbeautiful pictures!!!! Lovely, stunning and out of this world!!! Well done yet once again Jim! You definitely nailed it this time for me... Just loved them!!! Cheers!

fantasy in practicality said...

Jim, seeing Spoonbills for the first time that too through your eyes. the color of their body is just something i have never seen before. they STRIKINGLY ATTRACTIVE.

AJ said...

Hahaha the club culture in nature. You realize it's really just instinct.

I love the coloration on this bird species. Yeah, like flamingo. Great shots!

Rimly said...

I have heard of spoonbills but never seen the ones you took pictures of. I love that color! I think I can watch them the whole day and again and again like you Jim. And the lyrics that went with it was beautiful. Imagine the thrill and excitement of courting! I am sure they too spruce up to look the best to impress some beautiful chick. Thank you Jim for sharing. I love the PINK!

Mary Hudak-Collins livingthescripture.com said...

The clarity of your photos and the action that is captured is superb!

Melissa Tandoc said...

i could stay there forever too except that my mom will be out looking for me and sing "how can she solve a problem like melissa"...:P

my eyes laid rest on the feathers... i could see the details...those fine lines and colors...wow...

and on that band on the spoonbill's leg on the first photo... poverino...

oh now i understand where it got its name... thanks for introducing me to these different types of birds :D... i feel so happy i got to know them through your page :D

i also like the photos when the spoonbill spread its wings... esp. on the fourth... i stayed on that photo for half an hour...:P

i truly loved it... though the sky went a bit dim with the last photo...

oh see how rimly liked the pink too... the only pink birds i saw in my country were the flamingos :p

now tell me what's that yellow?