Spoonbills get more interesting

 Spoonbills are always interesting.  I have described a breeding effort by birds of this species at Kelly's Swamp in Canberra in http://canberrabirds.org.au/wp-content/canberra-bird-notes/cbnvol33no3.pdf (starting on p14).  In the Mallacoota area my major interest has been the contrast between recent observations:

• Royal Spoonbills being common while 
• I have never seen a Yellow-billed Spoonbill in the area  and 
• Ebird only has 4 records - 1 in 2020 seen by 4 observers; other sightings in 2007, 1991 and 1981

and comments by Bruce Pascoe, writing in 1979, that the Yellow-billed is quite common while the Royal is occasionally seen on sand bars and the Genoa Flats.  

I have no explanation (so far) for this contrast.

The catalyst for this post was seeing, on 14 October, 4 Royal Spoonbills, apparently gathering nesting material, in the canopy of a large shrub beside the Broome St Lagoon.  This is very clearly visible from the boardwalk.

They were clearly applying their bills to the vegetation.

On the morning of the 15th a good proportion of the flock were feeding in the Inlet nearby.

As we returned, the back-lighting gave an artistic effect.

Mullets-R-Us

Backlighting rules!

Meanwhile there is still activity going on in the canopy.

Bills have other uses than gathering nest material.

In this image there are clearly 5 birds up in the canopy.  I am sure they are building nests up there!

On the subject of artistic photos, Frances spotted this reflection in the Lagoon!