crow tagged injured roseate spoonbill florida

As long as we’ve lived on Sanibel, there are only a handful of times I have seen ROSEATE SPOONBILLS close enough  to get (somewhat) good photos of them. It’s such a special treat to see them!

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We saw these ROSEATE SPOONBILLS in the same area we passed on our way to Cayo Costa on the iLoveShelling Captiva Cruise where I showed you the WHITE PELICANS. That’s one of the reasons why I wanted to go back there! We didn’t see the WHITE PELICANS this time but I was thrilled when Clark spotted these instead.

roseate spoonbills captiva flats marsh florida

I always see them swinging their beaks from side to side through low tide mucky water feeling for tiny fish or shrimp or other crustaceans to feast on. Once their beak comes in contact with food, a special sensory nerve signals their beak to instantly close (I think I have that too- haha). Wouldn’t you like to see them feeding too? Well I thought so, so I took a video of them! Actually I have 2 videos for you but here’s the first one I took a few days ago. Oops! It’s a little shaky since I was sinking in that tidal muck so I was trying to keep my balance! But you’ll get the see how beautiful they are and witness that motion with their beaks for feeding.

I made this next video 2 years ago (my post Roseate Spoonbills At Sanibel Causeway) when I saw quite a few ROSEATE SPOONBILLS near the causeway in Fort Myers. I had a little more time back then so I made a fancy dancy movie with music- I love doing that! If you missed it then, you are in for a treat! Enjoy!

PS- I’ve also seen them multiple times in Ding Darling National Refuge on Sanibel. You just never know where they will show up but that’s a good place to start if you want to spot them.

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