A Spoonbill fishes at Newhaven

Spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia with fish or shrimp

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On Monday blue skies lured me to Newhaven to see the juvenile Spoonbill which had been resident for a week. I parked in the Tide Mills car park, then wandered west by the Tide Pool until I saw a crowd on the footbridge pointing large lenses at this charismatic bird. I spent two hours observing its fascinating behaviour. It moved its beak from side to side in the water and caught small fish, shrimp and a large crab. The tide was out so the pool had plenty of exposed mud. Every so often the bird would walk out of the water onto the mud and a stream of white would emerge from its backside. It didn't seem to mind the onlookers, but would not walk under the footbridge with its observers, instead it flew to the other side.

with fish

with fish

with fish

with fish

crabby

with fish

with fish