Overview

Family - Ibises (Threskiornithidae).

Spoonbills are tall white waterbirds with long spatulate black bills and long black legs. In flight they fly with necks and legs extended, in the water they feed with elegant sideward sweeps of their bill. In the breeding season adults show some yellow on their breast and bill tip. The species is of European conservation concern and a very rare breeding bird in the UK. Most birds migrate south in the winter, but numerous individuals remain and winter in Western Europe.

Comment

The spoonbills shot in sunshine were at RSPB Isley Marsh in North Devon.  The remaining spoonbills were photographed in early 2010 at Greylake RSPB reserve on the Somerset Levels.  More details here.