Rare spoonbills thrive up north

Rare spoonbills not seen regularly in Britain since the 1700s have bred in Yorkshire for the first time.

Spotted at RSPB Fairburn Ings, near Leeds, a breeding pair has broken new boundaries. Sightings of the bird have increased along the east coast of England and one breeding colony has been established in East Anglia, but the birds now seem to be making progress further north.

Traditionally nesting in southern and Eastern Europe, the increase in activity on UK shores is thought to be due to climate change drying out habitats on the continent.

As spoonbills are so rare, and are a specially protected species in the UK, their breeding success at Fairburn Ings has until now been kept a secret.

The colony in Yorkshire represents a wider trend for wader birds moving north in search of more suitable habitats to make a home.

Samantha Herbert