Each day with the rising sun, Roseate Spoonbills
arrive at their favorite watering hole to join their friends.
Some are early risers...
some aren't.
Some arrive wide awake and almost smiling...
while others arrive looking like they have a hangover,
but no matter their mood...they all have the same mission.
Time to get all the feathers good and wet. Photographing this part of the ritual isn't easy
because I start laughing and the pictures end up out of focus.
"How's the water?"
"Perfect!"
They hunker down and slap the water so hard with their wings that you can hear it
and it looks like a reverse rain shower as the water flies into the air.
"Wake up, Sleepy Head!"
"In your face, Buddy!"
"ENOUGH already! Let's preen."
There's such a sweetness in their face,
a gentleness in their movements,
and a gracefulness in preening those hard-to-reach places
like their belly,
inside corners,
wing tips,
and backsides, too.
Each feather is preened...
one by one...
every morning...
and every evening.
Whether shy,
or proud;
whether having a difficult...
or an easy time of it;
whether choosing privacy...
or companionship
the ritual takes place. (I love the feathers fanned out!)
Then it's back to their roost for a nap until late afternoon arrives and...
here they go again!
Thank you for spending this time with me. I hope you've enjoyed seeing these
magnificent, fascinating and beautiful creatures as much as I enjoyed observing them.
"Would you please click off now so I can continue preening in privacy!? Thank you."
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