News of a Spoonbill at nearby RSPB Conwy Nature Reserve had us out of the house and dashing down to the reserve. It began to rain as we arrived but not put off we quickly made our way to the Tal-y-fan hide. Ruth quickly picked out a large white lump on one of the islands in the left hand lagoon. Through the binoculars the lump became the Spoonbill! It was doing what Spoonbills do best, roosting with its huge spoon-shaped bill tucked into its wing feathers out of sight. With the Spoonbill fast asleep we scanned the muddy lagoon shores and soon found a beautiful flock of Black-tailed Godwits in their brick-red breeding plumage. At least five Common Sandpipers and four breeding plumaged Dunlin were busy feeding on the mud. In the deeper water Pochard, Tufted Duck and a single Goldenye were seen.
Moving down to the next hide, Carneddau, we enjoyed closer views of the Spoonbill and it even looked up a few times allowing a brief view of the crazy looking bill. It was great to see our friend John Davies, from mid-Wales in the hide up birding with two of his friends, they had luckily come across the Spoonbill on their planned visit to the reserve, very lucky indeed. Shoveler, Teal and Gadwall all showed well and the adult Lesser White-fronted Goose of unknown origin was still with the Canada Goose flock.If you would like to join us for great birding drop us an email info@thebiggesttwitch.comOur book of “The Biggest Twitch” is due for publication on 10 August 2010, so to reserve your signed copy just drop us an email.