Spoonbill relocation

Driving along the bypass this morning I noticed a bunch of very white birds on the waterfront but, being on the bypass road, nowhere to stop.  When I got home I quickly got the bike out and headed along the cycle track that runs right alongside the water and was thrilled to find a bunch (crowd? gaggle? school?  Who knows?!) of spoonbills.  They were far enough away to challenge the long lens but I didn't mind in the least.  I found a dry clump of grass and sat and watched them for about 15 minutes until the incoming tide meant they needed to relocate.  As they took off in unison there was a lot of flapping and gaggling then the nearby stilts became very (noisily!) upset that the spoonbills opted for the site they were at to land meaning the stilts got the hump, took off in unison (shouting their disapproval as they left) and headed for another area.  Such fascinating power games in the bird world!

Winter solstice today - shortest day, which can only mean that today heralds the start of the sun's return to us folks down here in the southern hemisphere :D  That's cause for celebration!

PS just Googled the term for a group of spoonbills (Maori name: kotuku ngutupapa) and found this.  Terms include: a canteen, a measurement , a runcible of, a service of and a bowl of (Roseate)(spoonbills) though I have no idea what the roseate part is all about.  Live and learn eh?!