Seymour Birdies Diary: Let's See How The Spoonbills Are Getting On

5th August 2022

On my last visit to Abberton on the 13th July 2022 both Spoonbill chicks had hatched but were still quite young but now are fully grown and taking their first flights although currently returning to the nest, but more of that later.

The Egyptian Geese continue to flourish at Abberton and there was a bit of action to photograph. Also the summering female Goldeneye was in her usual place on the causeway.

I then diverted my attention to the Common Terns which were quite active feeding now that they have families to feed.

This one was quite unusual as it landed on the banks of the causeway which I have only seen a couple of times before.

And here follows a diving sequence although the fish obviously had other ideas as the tern aborted to dive before hitting the water.

And now we turn our attention to the bigger herons, egrets and Spoonbills. Grey Herons have been with us for centuries and are a familiar sight in and around our waterways.

The Little Egret, however, is a relative newcomer and in or around 1985 I got up at 4.00am to drive to Rutland Water to see one, a rarity in those days.

Then a few years later came the Great White Egrets which are now a regular feature at Abberton, and one year there was a roost of 30+ birds. This year there have been up to 12 birds present, although I am not sure whether they have ever bred here.

Today one was feeding in the bay by the Layer Breton causeway and provided some great opportunities for some close-ups.................

...................and even put on a show!!!!

I never thought I would ever get this close to a Great White.

Cattle Egrets have now been turning up at Abberton and over the winter up to 11 birds have been with the sheep at Garr House Farm. They are breeding at Abberton this year but I only saw one all the time I was there.

But once again the Spoonbills are the stars of the show at Abberton this summer. This is the second year they have bred and once again have fledged young. Here are the two youngsters in the nest although both are able to fly as can be seen in the 3rd and subsequent shots. I love the black tips to the primaries of the juveniles.