It's Hooptie Deux Time with the Spoonies!

[Marina Scarr]

Had the good fortune to join fellow BPN moderator Randy Stout and Capt. James Shadle out on the Hooptie Deux last week. We had one heck of a morning! The light was stunning and the opportunities plentiful! This was my first time photographing roseate spoonbills coming in with nesting material at this rookery. We also photographed White Ibis in breeding plumage, American Oystercatcher bathing, Long-billed Curlew and a few other species. If you plan on visiting SW Florida in the next couple of months and would like to consider a trip to the Alafia banks, please contact me via PM and I can put you in touch with Capt James.

Note: Michigan resident Randy Stout and Florida native James Shadle were both wearing waders. The water at 78 degrees was warmer than the air!!! What's up with that guys??

C & C always welcomed and much appreciated.

Canon 500L & 1.4 TC
F8, 1/2000sec, ISO 800, manual mode
Feisol tripod, Jobu head

[Randy Stout]

Marina:

Must be that recent birthday that caused me to whimp out! I have been cold so many times in the bay, that I wasn't going to chance it.

Still, a great time was had, enjoyed the company and the birds.

This guy looks like he has had bill extension surgery, great wing position, soft light, well exposed.

Good to see you again.

Cheers

Randy

[shane shacaluga]

Light is perfect. Everything is lit with no shadows. Lots of details and those pinks have been exposed beautifully. The nesting material is a big bonus

TFS

[Gabriela Plesea]

Hello Marina!

That blood red of the wings just grabbed my eye as I was wondering which images to view in Avian tonight (at times I see this activity as a late night treat, LOL) - wonderful image and indeed a great bonus to capture something so special with a behavioural aspect included Well exposed and sharp where needs be, well composed and presented - delightful Marina, thank you for sharing

Kind regards,

[William Dickson]

Beautiful image Marina, I really love the colours on the bird. Great POV and well placed. Good work and thanks for sharing

Will

[Robert Kimbrell]

Great light you had her Marina. Well exposed and just the right angle to get both wings in good view. Makes me want to do it again this year.

[Glenn Conlan]

Great capture Marina, wonderful light and perfect exposure, wish we had this out west

[David Salem]

That is some great light you caught him in Marina. Love the details in the undewing and the exposure look perfect. Nice that you caught him with some nesting material too. I would love to shoot the rookeries some day. Nice work as always :)

[Troy Lim]

Classic Spoonie shot. Did you get a shot of them in the waders? That would be priceless.

[Karl Egressy]

Excellent flight shot in great light, Marina.

[Frank Schauf]

Great light and flight pose, Marina.

[Eric Dienesch]

A Really amazing good catch is this flight picture !!