Spoonbill

Lade - warm, dry, sunny, ne 2 - A much better day today due to lighter winds. Four Shelducks were new on south lake while Chiffchaff and Blackcap were both in song in the willow swamp. Several Mediterranean Gulls drifted over during the course of the day, noticeable by their distinctive mewing calls.
Boulderwall  - Called in briefly at Boulderwall this afternoon where the main attraction was a Spoonbill by Tanner`s Pool, and new for the year, not that I`m keeping much of year list of course... However, I say a Spoonbill, but as it was slumped asleep behind a bank, resembling a pile of feathers, it could have been anything; a sheep, a dead swan or even an old duvet cover, until it stuck its head up for five seconds showing off a shiny spatula. 
  Actually the pools thereabouts harboured something of a duck fest, what with Old Faithful the Ring-necked Duck eyeing up the lady Tufteds, a pair of Garganey and Pintail, plus a variety of Shoveler, Pochard, Gadwall, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Shelduck and a flighty Smew. Also on the fields, several Curlews, feral geese and swans, Lapwings, a Marsh Harrier and two Brown Hares.