Protected bird homes in on park

[Kymba]

A protected European water bird rarely spotted in the UK has set up camp in a nature reserve in east London.
Six spoonbills have been sighted at Rainham Marshes this year - twice the number recorded in the past 10 years.

The bird usually breeds in Holland and migrates to Africa in the winter, said the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

An RSPB spokesman said warmer summers and an improving habitat at the reserve explained the rise in numbers.

He said spoonbills visited Britain or Ireland in small numbers each year but it was hoped "colonisation" may be just around the corner.

"Breeding colonies in Eastern Europe are severely threatened where there has been a marked decline in recent years," he said.

"The number of spoonbills visiting Rainham Marshes this year is hopefully an indication that the species is expanding west from Europe into East Anglia and the South East."

[Ukwildlifeo]

Ah yes ive seen one of them at rainham last month. I also remember 2 overwintering (atleast part of the winter anyway) at farlington marshes near portsmouth a couple of winrters ago, which i was also lucky enough to see. I wasnt aware they were so thin on the ground before! perhaps there the next little egret and there be everywhere along the south coast in 10years

[rlchew]

I saw my first Spoonbill in the UK since 2000 just a few weeks ago during its short residence at my local patch (Wat Tyler Country Park in Pitsea, Essex).

I didn't manage to get any photos but here are some still captures from the RSPB webcam ....





As this bird breeds in good numbers just across the North Sea, I am sure it is only a matter of time until regular breeding occurs here.

The Purple Heron is another contender and I believe that a pair of these birds was seen regularly at a Suffolk site until the summer rains and floods came.

Richard

[Adam Cheeseman]

There was a flock of 7 in Poole Harbour over the winter. Nice to se a flock instead of the usual loners.

Cheers,

Adam

[aeshna5]

They used to breed here in the middle ages- even in London apparently!

[rlchew]

I'm not old enough to remember that

Richard

[clover green]

Oh great news! I am hoping to visit Rainham Marshes either this weekend or the next, so I hope to see them there, or when I go to Swanage (in Sept) I will check out Poole harbour again.

[rlchew]

There are also 3 at Farlington Marshes in Hampshire ....

Spoonbills at Farlington Marshes Wildlife Reserve

Richard

[mrs fish]

They have been seen quite a bit on Trimley marshes just lately

[goosey]

We were told by the ranger at South Walney nature reserve in Cumbria there was a Spoonbill there when we visited on the 22nd July - unfortunately we didn't see it though.