Spoonbill breeds in Essex for first time

A pair of Eurasian Spoonbills has successfully nested and raised a brood at Essex's Abberton Reservoir this summer, marking a first for the county.

After a tense wait, local birders and Essex Wildlife Trust were thrilled to watch two chicks successfully fledge from the nest in mid-August.

Although Eurasian Spoonbill is now a regular visitor to the area, this is the first time that nesting has been attempted at the reservoir.

Footage from last week shows the two young Eurasian Spoonbills stretching their wings (Andy Field).

Katie Goldsbrough, the Assistant Ranger at Essex Wildlife Trust's Abberton Reservoir Nature Discovery Park, commented: "This is really exciting news for the reserve and for Essex. First observed constructing a nest this June at the Layer Breton causeway in Abberton, the chicks have now hatched and have been doing well thanks to their doting parents.

"It has been amazing watching the chicks grow among the breeding Grey Herons and Little Egrets, high up in the willow trees. This special occurrence highlights the amazing conservation value of Abberton Reservoir and hopefully in future years it will become a place for an established breeding population."