Apologies (yet again) for the lack of posts, but the garden and kitchen have been very demanding. Now the weather is cooling down, I will have more time to try and go through the many photos that I have taken over the past couple of months. These photos (and many more), were taken on a recent trip to Arcachon which is below Bordeaux and about 3 1/2 hours from home
The Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) is a large wading bird 80 to 90 cm in length, and an adult weight of 1.7 to 2 kg. It's characteristic long, black, spoon-shaped beak makes it easy to identify, differentiating it from all other large European wading birds.
Its plumage is completely white, with black legs. Juveniles, very similar in appearance to adults, can be distinguished by the black tips on their flight feathers.
Spoonbills are typically dependent on wetlands and preferentially use freshwater marshes or the lagoons and estuaries just behind the coastal strip.
Present in western Europe, where it nests from the spring onward in Spain, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium, it migrates in the autumn to overwinter mainly in the south of Spain, and in northern, eastern or western Africa.
Individuals ringed in the Camargue have already been spotted in South Sudan, testifying to spoonbills’ long-distance migration capacities
The species is considered as vulnerable in France, and classified as such (VU) in the IUCN Red List.
My thanks for the above information which is taken from
Hello, Many truly outstanding captures of the Spoonbill. In the wetlands of southern Portugal I have also seen many Spoonbills.
ReplyDeleteThanks you so much for the comment much appreciated. They are quite remarkable bird. Have a great week Diane
DeleteLovely photos Diane. I'm so pleased you eventually managed to get out and about. While Spoonbills occur occasionally around here they are not usually close enough for photos and if they are, they just seem to stand around motionless for hours meaning there no chances for portraits. Unlike yours!
ReplyDeleteHi Phil I was quite pleased with these shots and not a bird I have photographed before. Interesting creatures. I have plenty of photos form a couple of trips. I have just not had enough time to edit them as yet.
DeleteAll the very best, Diane
Incredible images, superb photography. Yep, I understand about life getting in the way of hobbies like birdwatching!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week, and thanks for linking up at IRBB.
~Anni
Thanks Anni for the comment and for hosting. Time has really been a huge problem, I think this year more than normal because we had so much rain, either we had an overflow of crops or none at all!!
DeleteTake care and keep safe, Diane
Bonjour Diane.
ReplyDeleteTu es passée à côté de ma maison en allant au Teich ;-) . Avant c'était notre QG. Nous allons y aller à nouveau faire un petit tour.
Tes photos de spatules sont magnifiques ! BRAVO.
Bisous et à bientôt
Salut Nathalie, Je ne savais pas que tu habitais si près. Cela aurait été bien de vous rencontrer. J'ai été assez satisfait de ces photos. Merci pour le commentaire.
DeleteBisous et bonne semaine. Diane
Hi Diane - wonderful shots you've given us. Gosh ... Arachon sounds wonderful ... I drove through there (before I could drive) in 1963 ... on my way with friends of my mother's to their holiday home in the Basque country. Memories. Those spoonbills are quite gorgeous to see ...
ReplyDeleteSo pleased the garden and kitchen are keeping you occupied, making sure you can eat your own organic produce through winter ... congratulations - cheers Hilary
Thanks Hilary, sorry I am not keeping up!!! It is a lovely place to go but difficult for Nigel as there is a lot of walking! Keep well and have a good week Diane
DeleteExcellent shots. I love your bird pictures!
ReplyDeleteThanks Pam, have a great day, Diane
DeleteThose long beaks are quite intriguing aren't they?
ReplyDeleteLove the spoonbills, fascinating birds. Cheers Diane
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