Spoonbill

Spoonbills (Platalea leucorodia) are very rare in the British Isles, being more associated with continental Europe, the Mediterranean and north Africa. They are tall white birds of the Ibis family with long black legs and a characteristic spoon-shaped bill. They eat small fish and aquatic invertebrates using elegant sideways sweeps of their bill.

In the past decade a small population has taken up winter residence in the Lyhner and Tamar estuaries, forming part of the mixed community of wintering birds. The closest breeding sites for this species are in eastern England and Holland. The RSPB have more information on spoonbills.

Spoonbills can be seen in the Tamar estuary on a bird watching cruise in winter.

Photo credit: Jess Maslen