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Rare bird breeding success tops the bill for Norfolk Wildlife Trust

Spoonbill fledglings on Brendan's Marsh at Hickling Broad (credit: Elizabeth Dack)

Spoonbill have bred successfully for the second year running at NWT Hickling Broad and Marshes, providing hope of establishing a future breeding colony of these distinctive rare birds.

Hickling Broad nature reserve has become a haven for spoonbill in recent years, thanks to a combination of habitat management and an increasing British population. However, last year was the first summer that chicks successfully hatched – the first known breeding success in the Norfolk Broads for around 400 years.

Robert Smith, NWT Senior Reserves Assistant for Broads North, said: "It is so wonderful to see spoonbill fledglings again at Brendan's Marsh. It shows that our work to enhance the habitats on our reserves and across Norfolk is hugely important to the survival of our wildlife, including visitors such as the spoonbill.

A white spoonbill and its young stand amongst other birds in front of a marsh on a sunny day. The spoonbills are flapping their wings.

Spoonbill fledgling on Brendan's Marsh at Hickling Broad (credit: Elizabeth Dack)

"The fact that they have bred again gives us hope of having an established breeding colony here –something we've not seen in the Broadland landscape since the mid-17th century."

The spoonbill is a large white heron-like species that stands at three feet tall and has a wingspan of four feet. It gets its name from its long bill, which has a flat spoon-shaped tip. The species is of European conservation concern and a very rare breeding bird in the UK.

Spoonbill fledglings – known affectionately as 'teaspoons' on account of their shorter bills - can also be identified by the black in their wing tips. The fledglings at Hickling will commute between their nest in the trees and the pool at first, then move further afield when brave enough, before the family leave the nest for good and fly south. Poole Harbour is a key wintering spot for Norfolk breeding spoonbills.

A white spoonbill and its young stand amongst other birds in front of a marsh on a sunny day. The parent spoonbill is feeding their young.

Spoonbill fledgling on Brendan's Marsh at Hickling Broad (credit: Elizabeth Dack)

Rob continues: "The five fledglings are getting quite big now and starting to venture from their nests out onto the marsh to feed. The mix of shallows to deeper water means there is a diversity of invertebrate and small fish for food, and the mix of islands, dykes and various vegetation creates a mosaic of wetland habitats ideal for a wide range of species. At this time of year, birds such as ruff, snipe and green sandpiper can also be seen on the marsh, as well as heron and little egret."

With a bit of luck, visitors to Hickling Broad and Marshes may be able to spot the adult spoonbills and fledgling out on Brendan's Marsh or flying around the reserve. To maximise your chances of spotting the birds, binoculars or telescopes are advised.

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