Spoonbills at Abberton Reservoir

8th June 2022

Spoonbills bred for the first time in Essex in 2021 in the heronry at Abberton Reservoir This year they have returned to breed again and appear to be sitting on eggs. Although the nest is 130 yards from the causeway, as measured on Google Earth, a combination of large white birds and a bit of sun allows some reasonable photos to be taken.

What is presumably the female spends most of her time on the nest, only getting up to turn the eggs and when the male brings in food.

She is always pleased to see the male on his return and a lot of courtship ensues.

The male spends most of his time away from the nest and only returns to bring in food for the female or some more twigs for the nest, which provides plenty of flight shots.

And if you are lucky the male will decide to fish in the shallows right next to the causeway allowing some amazing close-ups to be taken.

I never thought I would be so close to a Spoonbill!!!