One more WOW! I enjoyed today's article and pictures even more than usual...and that's a LOT! Your photos are amazing!!! Am I dreaming to think maybe Betty Boop Boobie will bring a mate with her and come back to MO every year? After all, she has to show her friends what a celebrity she is!
WOW!!! There have been many birds that I would have never seen if not for you, Karen, and this is another one of them! These photos are phenomenal, and I deeply appreciate you sharing them with us!
Betty looks "otherworldly" to me, and when you said how big her wingspan was that added to feeling! Does the brown-footed booby normally travel in a flock, or are they a solitary bird? I pray that she makes it back home safely 🙏🏻 ❤️
Thank you, Roxy! She is such an interesting looking bird. They aren’t really migratory. All about Bird says “ Nests, rests, and forages in groups.” I read that they’ve only really been seen inland since about 2010. I think most of those reports are generally single birds and probably almost all juveniles. There was one reported in Minnesota four or five days before this one showed up in Kansas City. I looked at the photos, and it could be the same bird. Really will be interesting to see if there are any more reports of this bird, especially since she apparently decided to leave today.
That's really something if it's the same bird! I really like her (I know, she's the first one I've ever seen!) and I hope she makes it safely back to her home 🙏🏻❤️
Beautiful photography,Karen!!! What an experience...thanks for sharing it with us. Sounds like a new record for your county or state! Listers love this stuff.
Thanks, Ken! Definitely a first for the county. There was another bird that was probably the same. Bird reported in multiple locations around the lake of the Ozarks in 2022. There was one other Bird reported in 2020 in the very south corner of the state. I think this was a lot more than listers for sure. I would be case in point. I never “chase“ birds, but this was just so unusual and so close! Rumor has that she decided to leave this morning. Hasn’t been seen since about 9 AM.
Oh, I just love this! We had a red-footed booby show up in Port Townsend WA a couple years ago and I felt fortunate to spend some time with it there. You have some really exceptional shots. So happy you could experience this and so grateful you could share it here! Thank you!
How special. I've been lucky enough to photograph boobies in many places around the world--brown boobies in Puerto Rico and Baja, Mexico--and finding ones that are tolerant of people is not a problem. They evolved without 2-legged predators, so they don't realize what dangerous neighbors we can be. Some species will nest right on a trail and visitors have to step around them. Fascinating birds. Thanks for sharing.
What a magnificent one-bird share for this Summer Solstice, Karen. In a couple of your captures, looking straight at Betty’s face, there’s a certain ghostly appearance!? Her lack of intimidation by forces like humans and Blue Herons, and the abundance of fish, argue that she will complete her molt. I’m quite pleased knowing you’ll be there to document her new feathers. And further exploits!
Who needs World Cup soccer when you have Betty the Brown Booby?!? Thank you so much for sharing this with us - I can feel the excitement and reverence from you and your fellow birders. That pencil dive is truly magnificent!
Great photos of the brown booby diving, Karen! What a gift that you've been able to observe her over time and so close. May her stay there in the KC area give her all the fish she needs to molt and wander back home!
One more WOW! I enjoyed today's article and pictures even more than usual...and that's a LOT! Your photos are amazing!!! Am I dreaming to think maybe Betty Boop Boobie will bring a mate with her and come back to MO every year? After all, she has to show her friends what a celebrity she is!
Wow!!! What an amazing bird to find in Missouri!!! Excellent photos…thx for sharing her story!!!👍❤️😍🥰
Thank you, Sharon!
WOW!!! There have been many birds that I would have never seen if not for you, Karen, and this is another one of them! These photos are phenomenal, and I deeply appreciate you sharing them with us!
Betty looks "otherworldly" to me, and when you said how big her wingspan was that added to feeling! Does the brown-footed booby normally travel in a flock, or are they a solitary bird? I pray that she makes it back home safely 🙏🏻 ❤️
Thank you, so much, for this rare treat today!😍
Thank you, Roxy! She is such an interesting looking bird. They aren’t really migratory. All about Bird says “ Nests, rests, and forages in groups.” I read that they’ve only really been seen inland since about 2010. I think most of those reports are generally single birds and probably almost all juveniles. There was one reported in Minnesota four or five days before this one showed up in Kansas City. I looked at the photos, and it could be the same bird. Really will be interesting to see if there are any more reports of this bird, especially since she apparently decided to leave today.
That's really something if it's the same bird! I really like her (I know, she's the first one I've ever seen!) and I hope she makes it safely back to her home 🙏🏻❤️
Beautiful photography,Karen!!! What an experience...thanks for sharing it with us. Sounds like a new record for your county or state! Listers love this stuff.
Thanks, Ken! Definitely a first for the county. There was another bird that was probably the same. Bird reported in multiple locations around the lake of the Ozarks in 2022. There was one other Bird reported in 2020 in the very south corner of the state. I think this was a lot more than listers for sure. I would be case in point. I never “chase“ birds, but this was just so unusual and so close! Rumor has that she decided to leave this morning. Hasn’t been seen since about 9 AM.
Oh, I just love this! We had a red-footed booby show up in Port Townsend WA a couple years ago and I felt fortunate to spend some time with it there. You have some really exceptional shots. So happy you could experience this and so grateful you could share it here! Thank you!
Thank you, Bonnie Rae! That red footed booby must’ve been amazing too.
How special. I've been lucky enough to photograph boobies in many places around the world--brown boobies in Puerto Rico and Baja, Mexico--and finding ones that are tolerant of people is not a problem. They evolved without 2-legged predators, so they don't realize what dangerous neighbors we can be. Some species will nest right on a trail and visitors have to step around them. Fascinating birds. Thanks for sharing.
Oh this is good to know, that's common behavior! Thank you so much!
Have fun documenting such an unusual occurrence. I'm envious.
Rumor has it she left this morning. This is definitely the most unusual visitor we’ve had in Kansas City since I started watching birds.
Happy Solstice Karen, and thank you for the GLORY of the booby surprise. What amazing photos to usher us into another season.
Thank you Stephanie!
What a magnificent one-bird share for this Summer Solstice, Karen. In a couple of your captures, looking straight at Betty’s face, there’s a certain ghostly appearance!? Her lack of intimidation by forces like humans and Blue Herons, and the abundance of fish, argue that she will complete her molt. I’m quite pleased knowing you’ll be there to document her new feathers. And further exploits!
Thank you Gary! I doubt I'll go back down there, it's a ways from me and into city traffic, but I feel so lucky to have watched her one day!
Understood, Karen. I’d regard your photos from that day as treasure!
Well at first glance at your title
"bobby prize"/'loser' flashed through my mind. How wrong I was! I appreciate your broader, splendid definition in living colour🙏🏻🫶🏻
Ha ha, I had to do it. Thanks MC!
Who needs World Cup soccer when you have Betty the Brown Booby?!? Thank you so much for sharing this with us - I can feel the excitement and reverence from you and your fellow birders. That pencil dive is truly magnificent!
Right?!? So much better than the world cup (which has mostly produced headaches locally).
Great photos of the brown booby diving, Karen! What a gift that you've been able to observe her over time and so close. May her stay there in the KC area give her all the fish she needs to molt and wander back home!
Thank you Susan!
I'm adding another "Wow"! Amazing photo capture, and story to go with it. Thanks!
Thank you Julie!
😲
Yep, that was my face!
What a wonderful Solstice gift! Your diving photos are great.
Thank you Sue!