ML618137228

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Continuing rarity originally found by Jodi Smith. Pink wading bird, long bill with spoon-shaped tip. Located just up from parking lot on Nature Trail at first sharp bend (just before bench). We arrived at 11:30 and missed the bird by 10 minutes. Left at 3:30 and the bird showed up 30 minutes later. (!!) did a U-turn and booked back only for the bird to fly away (past the distant power lines to our right) just as we reached reached the refuge. Patience finally rewarded at 6:10pm when the spoonbill flew back from the rookery near the power lines and landed at the far end of the river/pool area. Decent but distant looks for about 20 minutes when it suddenly took flight directly towards us, flew overhead (!!!!!) and landed about 20 yards away. It was a completely surreal experience and the six of us were giddy with delight watching it forage for about 10 minutes. When last seen it took flight north (right past us!) towards the lagoon area then circled in a wide arc left and then back S/SW over and past the parking lot area. Looked like it went down somewhere out that direction and others told us there were more ponds out there. Many thanks to Jodi Smith for finding it and to Jim Gain and Ralph Baker for spreading the word and giving so many of us a chance to see this beauty.

Technical information

Dimensions

1960 pixels x 1605 pixels

Original file size

1.54 MB