Spoonbills Spooning

[Guest]

We have just returned from an enjoyable trip to our Northern Territory - known as "The Top End".
It is the end of the Wet Season and this year has been exceptional.
Unfortunately, while the area is renowned for it's bird life, in the wet the birds spread out and are not so easily found. In the dry they gather around the water holes in profusion.
Never-the-less, I captured some species I did not have - including these Royal Spoonbills.

We came across a group foraging.



This guy reminded me of a sentry standing guard.


And then they started spooning


Then there was a noise - and they were gone!

[Ann1e]

Re: Spoonbills Spooning

Glad you enjoyed your trip - great that you got some 'firsts' and these pix of the Royal Spoonbills are a great memory for you.

I hadn't given a thought to the idea that plentiful rain would make bird spotting that much more difficult but your explanation makes sense.

You seem to have had a topsy turvy weather pattern in Australia this summer. Friends of ours who were next door neighbours in our previous house have fairly recently returned from visiting their son who lives in Sydney and they had rain for a full fortnight before enjoying a third week of pretty good weather. They just had to enjoy the family first and fit all the touristy bits into the final week!

Regards,
Ann1e

[Floribunda]

Re: Spoonbills Spooning

Glad you enjoyed your trip - great that you got some 'firsts' and these pix of the Royal Spoonbills are a great memory for you.

I hadn't given a thought to the idea that plentiful rain would make bird spotting that much more difficult but your explanation makes sense.

You seem to have had a topsy turvy weather pattern in Australia this summer. Friends of ours who were next door neighbours in our previous house have fairly recently returned from visiting their son who lives in Sydney and they had rain for a full fortnight before enjoying a third week of pretty good weather. They just had to enjoy the family first and fit all the touristy bits into the final week!

Regards,
Ann1e

Hi Annie,
Yes - the East Coast has really copped it this year with very heavy rain. A lot of the rivers have flooded and caused havoc in the country towns they pass through.
The Northern Territory has had a huge wet season, and everything is so green and lush up there.
The birds are all spread out over the wetlands and I only saw a handful of Magpie Geese the whole time we were there and usually there are thousands of them.
Here in SA we have had one of the mildest summers I can remember. No real heat waves and enough rainy showers to keep the hills nice and green.
I wonder what winter will bring?

[Chevvyf1]

Re: Spoonbills Spooning

Lyn, What amazing birds ! I doubt that I shall EVER see any Thanks for sharing ... I love the "Spooning" I guess that is a spoonerism for mating

[Floribunda]

Re: Spoonbills Spooning

Lyn, What amazing birds ! I doubt that I shall EVER see any Thanks for sharing ... I love the "Spooning" I guess that is a spoonerism for mating

Hi Chevvy - hope you have shrugged that flu off and are feeling better.
I have only seen a solitary spoonbill before, and never got a shot, so you can imagine my delight at finding a group of them.
They jumped and danced about, and yes, I think it was part of a mating ritual.
They also seemed to "march" along in formation when foraging, which was cute to watch.

[Chevvyf1]

Re: Spoonbills Spooning

Lyn, what a VERY VERY EXCITING trip North, you had what with these Spoonbill and the Red Kites too !