Dr Isaac Vaisman, APSA, PPSA  


Spoonbill Feeding the Chick by Dr Isaac Vaisman, APSA, PPSA

November 2023 - Spoonbill Feeding the Chick

About the Image(s)

Spoonbill Feeding the Chick was created last year at the Alligators Farm is St Augustin – Florida in april which is the last month of the year they provide what is call the Photographer’s Pass meaning that you can enter the facility early in the morning, before they officially open, and you can stay until sunset (they close at 5:00 PM) and of course; you have to pay extra for that. In the rockery spoonbills nest every year, and this pair set up their nest visible, and with very few branches interfering with the view. It was chowtime time, and both parents were in the nest.

The image was created with a Nikon Z9 with the Nikkor zoom lens S 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 + the 1.4x TC for a total of 560 mm @ 420 mm with these settings: ISO 100 (Auto setting), f/8 and 1/800 sec. The image was P in Lightoom and cropped.


This round’s discussion is now closed!
7 comments posted




Randall Gusdorf   Randall Gusdorf
(Group 81)
Dr Isaac, what a beautiful shot of a complex scene. What I love most, beyond the wonderful colors, and the eyes, is the tension seen in the adult's mouth from the baby's bill. That is awesome, and you got the eyes perfectly. I do not see what more you could do with the shot.   Posted: 11/02/2023 18:20:38



Sarita Yeola   Sarita Yeola
Wow! This is a beautiful image of the spoonbills. I agree with Randall, the image is unique and powerful because you can see the inserted young baby's beak in the adult mouth. Excellent!
I was fortunate enough to photograph the White Ibis and Glossy Ibis babies being fed by adults at a rookery, but never knew how far the baby's beak goes into the adults mouth.   Posted: 11/02/2023 20:12:29



Hans-Werner Griepentrog   Hans-Werner Griepentrog
Hi Isaac, congratulations on this beautiful spoonbill photo in the nest. It was definitely worth the entry fee with your photographer's pass. I'm sure it was a great experience for you.   Posted: 11/02/2023 21:49:59



Jim Horn   Jim Horn
Isaac, You captured a great moment of spoonbills parenting their growing chick. The details, colors and lighting are ideal. It might be unnatural, but if you could lighten the dark underside of the other spoonbill's bill it would help with separation from the background.   Posted: 11/03/2023 14:37:31
Comment Image



Kathy Buckard   Kathy Buckard
Wow a lot of action going on here. I have witnessed three or four birds trying to get in mom's mouth at the same time, feeding time is frantic. It is amazing that you were able to get such sharp focus! Bright, rich colors and a beautiful natural story.   Posted: 11/03/2023 21:59:55



Pei-Fan Mu   Pei-Fan Mu
(Group 78)
Thanks for you sharing such beautiful photo with a lot of mother-child interaction. The nature of the color of the eyes reactions, the feather color of the spoonbills and background color is very soft and gentle. I love it very much.   Posted: 11/07/2023 23:36:18



Mike Patterson   Mike Patterson
(Groups 22 & 71)
Wonderful capture, beautiful colors and tack sharp. Can't get much better than this!   Posted: 11/08/2023 13:26:12