Spoonbill
Platalea leucorodia
Length 80-90cm

A scarce but regular visitor to coasts, mainly in E and S England. Often stands for extended periods with bill tucked under wings and then can be confused with resting little egret or even mute swan if long, black legs not visible. Unmistakable at other times when long, flattened bill with spoon-shaped tip can be seen; bill is black with paler tip in adult but dull pinkish in juvenile. At all times has pure white plumage but breeding adult usually shows dirty yellow flush on breast and around base of bill. Feeds by wading through shallow water, sweeping bill from side-to-side. In flight, has long, bowed wings and keeps head and neck extended with legs trailing. Characteristically flies with shallow wingbeats and extended glides; wings of adult pure white but dark-tipped in juveniles. Nearest spoonbill breeding colonies are in Netherlands and so, not surprisingly, most British records are in E Anglia, mainly in spring. Food items include small fish, crustaceans, aquatic insect larvae and tadpoles.