Just another day at the Everglades, or one of Florida's many phenomenal wetland preserves? Florida is bout the only state where the goofy and awesome Roseate Spoonbill doesn't look out of place. However, as you may have suspected, this distant and dismal shot was not taken in Florida, but at the smelly, hot, and ridiculously birdy Glendale Recharge Ponds in west Phoenix, which makes it more palatable eh?
Spoonbills are already crazy-looking birds, but this bird must actually be crazy. It's now been camping out in Basin 2 of the Recharge Ponds for two days, a good two thousand miles out of its usual North American range. First called in on Saturday by Melanie Herring (thanks Melanie!) this is the second Spoonbill to turn up in Glendale in the last four years.
It's a pretty nice lifer for me, one I was definitely not expecting to pick up in Phoenix, and one which I still need to see properly--in its normal habitat and up close--in Florida. But until then, I certainly appreciate this pretty pink fella coming by to spoon in Phoenix.
Very nice catch:) I've been reading about the sightings up there. Tell them to come down to Tucson:) I'm going tonight to our manmade recharge ponds and he is most welcome:) I like the shot a lot.
ReplyDeleteSo Laurence. The Starthroat is major pain in my #@$. I have missed it so many times that I think the group here are playing games with me. Yesterday I missed it by a half hour!!!! Now there are a billion other things out there that validate everything about the birding experience but this hummingbird ELUDES me! I feel like Khan to Kirk, "He tasks me! He tasks me, and I shall have him! I'll chase him round the Moons of Nibia, and round the Antares Maelstrom, and round Perdition's flames before I give him up! Prepare to alter course!" Okay that's a bit extreme....but you get my drift:)
Just had the tires changed and it's up to Portal next weekend for the last of the hummers. Glad you got out. That's such a beautiful bird. Birding first. School can wait:)
Ha! I can sympathize with that desire and frustration Chris. This is what, the third or fourth one that's been around this summer too? Makes me wonder if this means that they'll occur more regularly, of if this is just a boom year and we'll be without for the next few summers (I hope not!). Just remember, even when it seems like you can't, you still KAAAAAAAN find him : )
DeleteI hope you get some goodies in Portal. I haven't seen any Rufous Hummers this summer, surely one of my regrets despite everything else. Looking forward to your Chuparosa shots.
I got two more:) But I'm not saying what, but what a thrill to capture new birds....especially lifers:) I'm hoping to end the hummer challenge with a bang:) The tires will come handy:) Now if the weekend could just get here faster:)
DeleteNIce work! I look forward to your hummer posts, as always.
DeleteFreakin awesome dude! Though I'm pretty sure it's Roseate Spoonbill, no? You can call it whatever the hell you want though because it's sooooo rad and jealousy-inducing.
ReplyDeleteWOAH! Good catch Flycatcher Jen. As you can tell, my brain melted with this bird and I only ceased to be a spluttering, boneless wreck for long enough to make a quick post, before recrudescing into a puddle.
DeleteBut now, you've got me thinking, it would be fun to purposefully misspell all the bird names on a blog, just to be ornery.
Hope you got some good stuff this weekend too.
Ha, I don't blame your brain for melting! I just picked up three lifers this morning so I am in the same phase... I shall double-check my spelling in your honor.
DeleteDouble-checke huh? Sounds like you're an extreme hockey player. Three lifers? Sounds like you're an extreme birder. Nice work!
DeleteSweet!!!!!!!! Congrats on your lifer, especially on this Florida favorite!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tammy. It was gracious of you Floridians to let one fly over. I know how exclusive y'all like to be with your waders : )
DeleteSo sick. Spoonbill is a bird of the highest caliber. Glad you got one.
ReplyDeleteMy hand has been forced; I will be going to the Salton Sea this weekend. When are you going?
Yarp it's a .50 cal bird for sure.
DeleteMy tentative plan was to go on Sept. 1st, the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, as then I'd have the extra day to make sure I can comfortably get all the normal weekend work done.
If you're looking for a bird buddy though I could try a double dip. Hell I know it'd be great for me, but Seagulls aren't meant to be shackled. It'd be fun though.
Right now Im thinking about going out Saturday afternoon, camping, and birding until sometime midday on Sunday...theres a chance I might leave on Friday though (coming back Saturday), depending on how work is going. Gimme a holler if you want to meet up!
DeleteWow, congrats on your Spoonbill. It is a great bird and it was very nice to show up in Phoenix. Happy Birding!
ReplyDeleteThat was very nice of it! Thanks Eileen
DeleteGreat bird for out west. They are indeed an odd one.
ReplyDeleteI do believe this Spoonbill induced a few mild heart palpitations. The wild wild west after all.
DeleteGreat pics of the Spoonbill . :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Sarasota. They work to document it, but I'd like to go to Sarasota for some better looks : )
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