Charlotte of ‘Prairie Birder’, hosts a weekly challenge called “Feathers on Friday.” Whilst visiting the Wacodahatchee Wetlands in Florida, I was so thrilled to see my first ever Roseate Spoonbill. This has to be one of the most spectacular birds found in North America, with its unique spoon-like bill and its beautiful pink plumage. (Click on any photo to get a larger image.)
At the turn of the 20th century, their lovely pink feathers were much sought after for the making of ladies’ fans, with the result that in the 1930’s, their Florida population was down to only 30 to 40 breeding pairs. Thankfully, since the 1940’s they were given full legal protection from hunters, and there are now over a thousand pairs nesting there.
If you would like to participate in Charlotte’s weekly photo challenge, just click this link.
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Great shots AD, you were lucky to be so close 🙂
Thanks, Chris P. 🙂
Such a pretty pink color!
Isn’t it just? I once saw a Jaguar painted that shade of pink. 😀
I’ve photographed them and they ARE so very pink. I have a pairing with one in a tree. An unusual looking little bird that is quite fascinating. Nice capture ….
Lovely pink! And I really like these shots. 🙂
Thanks, so much, Inga. 🙂
What a beautiful shade of pink, it is so perfect.
They are even more beautiful in real life, Desire.
What a shame if these beautiful creatures got extinct. I am glad to know that there are more of them now. Their feathers are way better on them than on a fan.
Yes, it’s unthinkable that these lovely birds should be hunted and killed. 😦
How beautiful, and what a lovely shade of pink! Have never seen one in the flesh Sylvia!
Thanks Madhu. Glad you enjoyed seeing this lovely bird. 🙂
Wow, I would have been too nervous to have snapped him! What a treat, Sylvia. I can only imagine how gorgeous he is in person. 🙂 And I always absolutely love watching birds splashing around in their baths for some reason. My little Conure tickles me when he bathes himself. And, the birds bathing in the runoff water along the street always make me smile. I loved this.
Yes, we have a little bird bath in our bit of back garden, and I love to watch the birds splashing around. Of course, that’s when the mongooses aren’t drinking from it. 🙂
When we traveled to FL it took me weeks to capture a decent photo of this beautiful bird. Lovely! 🙂
Thanks, LuAnn. I think we were just lucky that day. 🙂
Great photoshot! I have never seen Roseate Spoonbill from near place. You’ve lucky Sylvia.
Thanks so much, DellaAnna. Yes, I was very lucky. I hope to see him again when we go back to Florida. 🙂 Have a lovely day. xx
It is a very pretty shade of pink – what luck for you to manage to see this lovely bird.
Thanks, Elaine. Yes, I was so happy to spot this lovely bird. 🙂
veramente splendide!!!!!!
🙂
Thanks, Ventis. 🙂
The arrogance of humans to make this beauty into a fan! Outrageous! Thank you for sharing another exciting encounter with us 🙂
Thanks, Paula. I so agree with you. Wicked hunters! So glad you enjoyed my pink post. 🙂
You are welcome, Sylvia. I’m so short of time these days, and I can’t visit as regularly as I would like.
I understand, Paula. I’m going to be busy moving out of my home soon, so will be in the same boat. 🙂 xx
Nothing like the thrill of seeing something for the first time (bird, flower, etc.). Love that soft pink color on this bird.
Thanks, Annette. Yes it is so beautiful. 🙂
Beautiful birds these Sylvia, you got some great shots. Have a lovely weekend 🙂 xx
Thanks so much, Sherri. Hope you’re also having a great weekend. 🙂
Thanks Sylvia, lovely weekend, and here we are Monday again! Here’s to a great week ahead…she says optimistically 😉 xx
Great images … I thought it was a pink flamingo at first – never heard about this bird before. Wish you a pleasant weekend.
Thanks, Viveka. Glad you enjoyed seeing this lovely bird. 🙂
I look it up on internet – have a very strange beak, Beautiful pink.
Amazing colour Sylvia! So glad you got to see this bird in the ‘feather’ so to speak. 🙂
Thanks, Adrian. I’ve only seen them on Phil’s blog, and was so thrilled to see one for myself. 🙂
I’m still trying to pronounce Wacodahatchee. But that is a magnificent bird indeed so it doesn’t really matter if I get it wrong 😉
Yes, it’s quite a mouthful, Dianne, but I bet you have Australian names which are equally strange. 🙂
That is so cool. How close were you to the bird, may I ask?
Thanks, YC. We were on the boardwalk, and only a few metres away.
What an awesome bird. I’ve never seen one! Glad they are protected now! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Thanks, Marsha. Glad you enjoyed seeing one for the first time. 🙂
🙂
What a gorgeous bird! 🙂
🙂
this is gorgeous AD, just amazing! great shots to show us those pink feathers, good news that the population is recovering so well 🙂
Thanks, so much, Christine. Glad you enjoyed. 🙂
I don’t think I’ve even hear of these beauties, what gorgeous colours, I ‘d love to see them 🙂
Yes, their plumage is quite spectacular, Gilly. I can’t wait to get back to go looking for them again. 🙂
It was worth going there just so you could say you’d been to Wacodahatchee Wetlands. Lovely bird photos!
Hahaha. Thanks, Carol.Yes it’s quite a mouthful, isn’t it? I shall be back there again ASAP. Are you still waiting in limbo?
Now in the UK. No i’net access. Sitting in a cafe. Horrendous journey. Too tired to write but now just about back to normal. Hahahahaha! I know what you’re thinking. she’ll never be normal!
What is normal? 🙂 Hugs to you.
Beats me!
Great pictures! We saw some in the zoo, they’re really pretty birds.
Thanks, Josiah. Yes, they are beautiful. 🙂
Those pink birds are incredible. I’m afraid I would stalk them relentlessly with my camera. Appreciate your sharing.
Hehehe. I’m looking forward to seeing some more when I’m back in Florida. 🙂
wow! wonderful capture, Sylvia! i’ve never seen it before. it’s a beautiful bird and what lovely shade of pink. have a great weekend! 🙂
Thanks Lola. Happy weekend to you too. 🙂
What an exciting moment you’ve captured. The Spoonbill is lovely! I’m so happy that’s it a protected species. Happy weekend!
Wow, scary how close they came to vanishing from Florida. Glad to hear the law’s intervention has been successful! 🙂
Yes it is scary. Thank goodness something was done about it in time. 🙂
They are such beautiful birds. We have several nesting pairs around here too, nicely done. Too bad your little fellow was feeling bashful.
Yes they are, and how fortunate for you to have so many of them close at hand. 🙂
We see that gorgeous bird less and less around here. That second photo is spectacular. 🙂 Have a great weekend.
Thanks so much, Lynne. I did only see one of these birds each time we were there. I’m sure there must have been more.
What a surreal color to be found in nature!
I know. It’s so flashy. 😀
Wow, they are amazing birds. Would love to see one! A shame it didn’t come out from the reeds – so inconsiderate of him 😉
Yes they are. I guess I was lucky to see him, even through the reeds. 🙂
You certainly were.
‘hehehe’ – what a color for a bird, very well captured… 🙂
Thanks so much, Drake. 🙂
Spoonbills were a common sight when we had a house in Galveston. The first time I saw a bunch of them together I thought they were fake flamingos! How did I know?
Hahaha. An understandable mistake, Lulu.
Pretty bird!
Yes he is. Too pretty for a male. 🙂
🙂
Such sunny photos, the birds seem to be having a lot of fun, splashing around like that. Or maybe they were hot since it’s summer over there in your part of the world. Or maybe they were flirting with each other 😉
This photo was taken in winter. I’m now in South Africa, also in winter, but we don’t get these birds here.
I see. Flitting around two places, lucky you. It must never be boring. Keep warm in winter. It’s freezing and windy in Melbourne over here.
Wow what a beauty… wouldn’t mind seeing one or two of those…
Thanks, bulldog. They are quite spectacular, aren’t they? 🙂
Great shots, I got to photograph a Rosate rookery in Beaumont Texas a bunch of years back. Fascinating birds 🙂
Thanks, Ed. Lucky you to see so many. Have you got the pics?
Its drizzling here too and its cold!
Enjoy the weekend.
Thanks.I don’t think we’re going to see the sun today. Glad we went for a walk yesterday, when it was really lovely.