In search of a bird which has a kitchen utensil
In search of a bird which has a kitchen utensil for a bill
Some birds once you become aware of you really, really want to see. We have been amazingly lucky and had encounters with many of these "must see" birds, but one has not crossed our path, yet. We love waders and their migrations across the world are a constant sourch of amazement and a wonderful way to enthuse non-birders about the wonder of our chosen passion.
But a wader that has a kitchen utensil stuck on its face just has to be seen! The Spoon-billed Sandpiper is not only globally threatened, and fast declining, but is that bird! We want to see one - bad! Having spent three days at the British Birdwatching Fair, on the Leica Sports Optics stand, with a full colour photograph of a Spoon-billed Sandpiper just above our heads it made the want so much more!
So we hatched a plan to try and see one of these diminutive charasmatic little waders. So, Thailand here we come! Of course we are hoping to see many other wonderful birds on this trip but that little bird with odd shaped beak is top of the shopping list!
What a bird, how could not want to see one?
Photo by Chris Bradshaw
We are not sure how much internet access we will have when we are away, but will do our best to keep in touch. Do check the twitter feed on the home page as sometimes it is possible to update this quickly from a mobile phone, if we have a signal.
Plese bear with us if you send us an email it may take a little time for us to reply. We will of course catch up with all our admin and post a series of kitchen utensil related blogs as soon as we can!
Best wishes and good birding - Alan and Ruth