Spoonbills in Poole Harbour

These eurasian spoonbills (palatea leucordia) were photographed at Arne, on Poole Harbour.  Adults have black bills; some of these have pale bills and must therefore be juveniles.

The rearmost bird is landing; I wish I had captured him in flight a split second earlier.

The birds are elegant, and slightly manic when dredging for food: they sometimes dance circles around their submerged beaks to secure their prey.

The species has only started to become established as regular winter visitors to Britain during the past five years.  The RSPB cites a record-breaking flock of 47 spoonbills in Poole Harbour last year.