Spoonbills turn up in time for open day

The distinctive spoonbills, which breed on the Continent and visit coastal areas of Britain during summer, have just flapped in to Blacktoft Sands, an RSPB site near Goole.

Visitor officer Mike Andrews said they were providing a memorable spectacle as they went about searching for food.

“It is fascinating watching these large, white heron-like birds with those spoon bills preening, sleeping and sweeping those amazing bills back and forward through the water in search of small fish in our lagoons,” he said.

“Once they have they snatched a fish, they toss their heads back as they swallow that snack. It is one of those memorable moments taking place in full view of our many visitors at the moment.”

The centre is holding its summer open day on Sunday, with free entry between 10am and 4pm and refreshments provided by Ousefleet Old School village hall.

Other residents visitors might encounter include avocets, black-headed gulls, barn owls and marsh harriers, which are busy feeding their young throughout the reserve, which is between Ousefleet and Adlingfleet.