Spoonbill is a regular spring and summer visitor in small
numbers to the UK. Most records are from coastal East
Anglia, with an exceptional 19 together at Minsmere in July
1996. Long-staying individuals could be found in winter in
Poole Harbour, Taw Estuary in Devon and on the River Lynher
in Cornwall. Viewable colonies can be seen on Texel
(Holland), the Hortobagy-Halasto fishponds (Hungary) and
Lake Manyas (Turkey) but feeding birds can be seen in small
numbers at many other wetlands, mostly in southern or
eastern Europe. The European population is estimated at
between 2600 - 3200 pairs.
There have been around sixteen Spoonbill reported from S.
Gloucestershire;
2011: (c.8) HIGHEST COUNT 5
A
flock of five, four juveniles and an adult, alighted briefly
at New Passage on September 14th at 17:10 before departing
south-east five minutes later; Two juveniles were seen at
New Passage and Severn Beach on October 2nd with one still
present on October 3rd and 5th; One was seen at New Passage
on October 14th - 16th ; One was reported over Thornbury
Yacht Club at Oldbury-on-Severn on October 28th at 11:35
heading south.
Spoonbills at New Passage. September 2011. Vic Savery.
2010: (1)
A
1st winter was seen in flight over Thornbury Yacht Club,
Oldbury-on-Severn in the morning on December 2nd.
2009: (2)
Two juveniles were seen briefly in the evening at 19:15 on
the shore at Shepperdine on April 12th.
Spoonbills at Shepperdine. April 2009. Pete Hazelwood.
2008: (1)
A
presumed adult was seen at Oldbury Power Station at around
10:30 on September 6th and was watched flying across and up
river. It circled and landed on Lagoon III where it was
present for just 5 minutes before heading downriver. It was
relocated flying southwest over Aust and then above the
shoreline at Northwick Warth at around 11:00.
2006: (1)
An adult was tracked down the coast on April 23rd. It was
seen briefly at Oldbury Power Station then flew down river
at 16:25. It was subsequently seen at Littleton Warth,
Northwick Warth and finally over Severn Beach late in the
afternoon.
2004: (1)
An adult was seen briefly on February 15th at Northwick
Warth.
Spoonbill at Northwick Warth. February 2004. Paul Bowerman.
1998: (3)
Two 1st summer birds were watched on April 18th roosting on
the shingle Island before flying off up river from Severn
Beach. This occurrence constitutes the first report of this
species in S. Gloucestershire; A 1st summer was found on May
2nd, it was seen to fly over Northwick Warth and then
disappeared inland.