Spoonbills at Abberton Reservoir

11th August 2023

On my last visit to Abberton there were two active Spoonbill nests so time to see how they are getting on. Layer Breton causeway was desperately quiet with not even a single Yellow Wagtail, just a couple of Pied Wagtails.

At the Layer de la Haye causeway a Great White Egret flew in and started to feed along the western shore.

I can never get used to the length of that neck...................

........................and how it goes in for the kill.

There was also a lone Common Sandpiper along the shore which allowed a few shots...............

.........................before flying off and allowing a few more.

But the surprise for me today was a Kingfisher which put on quite a display at the NE corner of the Layer Breton causeway. I have seen Kingfishers a few times at Abberton but they are normally fleeting glimpses as they whizz past. This one was on view, albeit at a range of 50 yards as measured on Google Earth, for at least an hour.

It even caught a fish.

So what about the Spoonbills? Well it was difficult to see into the nest so I concentrated on their favourite island on the southern shore west of the causeway. There were two juveniles here spending their time preening and fishing.

They were also enjoying their new-found freedom and flying around quite a bit.

At one time there were four juveniles on the island and they were then joined by a pair of adults.

Who would have thought this would have been possible three years ago???