Over the years I’ve missed numerous Spoonbills in Derbyshire. This spring I missed one at Ogston by minutes, so I was hopeful that I would catch up with one soon enough, especially as their numbers are increasing in the UK year on year.
Sure enough, an immature bird was discovered during mid-morning at Willington Gravel Pits on the 25th August 2021, giving me my chance and fortunately the bird stayed long enough for me to see it. It showed well albeit a little distant on the gravel spit on the main lagoon. As is often the case at Willington, birds can be distant making photography difficult, but at least it moved about and even took flight on several occasions. My 285th bird for Derbyshire.
