Yellow-billed Spoonbills should not widespread round Broome, however we do observe them yearly or two on the ephemeral lakes through the dry months. All the birds are benefiting from the final remaining water and meals at the moment of yr. Royal Spoonbills are extra widespread and so they wish to frequent the Poo Ponds and the tidal flats shut by in addition to the ephemeral lake techniques.
It was no shock final weekend to seek out sixteen Royal Spoonbills feeding at one of many native lakes. We have been shocked to see the Yellow-billed Spoonbill, although. Our final encounter with Yellow-billed Spoonbills this yr was on the Fortescue River. That was a particular encounter, as a result of we had stumbled throughout a breeding colony. The nests have been excessive up within the timber in the midst of the river and so they have been constructed with some very giant sticks.
All the pieces appears completely regular within the header photograph. There are two Spoonbills feeding away. One Royal Spoonbill and one Yellow-billed Spoonbill. I took a number of photographs of them feeding collectively after which we observed that the Yellow-billed Spoonbill had a international object in its breast. It seems to be a stick. We don’t know how lengthy this international object has been caught on this specific chicken, but it surely was capable of feed and fly with none apparent issues.
Royal Spoonbill and Yellow-billed Spoonbill feeding
When the Yellow-billed Spoonbill moved away from the Royal Spoonbill I used to be capable of take some nearer photographs of the chicken. It actually does seem like a stick of some type that’s caught in its breast. Perhaps it occurred within the nest, however it’s one thing that we’re unlikely to ever know for certain.
Yellow-billed Spoonbill with a international object in its breast
Once we returned dwelling we rang the Broome Hen Observatory to ask them to maintain a watch out for it in the event that they have been in the identical location sooner or later. They’ve since noticed it this week on the similar location. It seems to have the ability to feed and fly with out challenge and we’ll all proceed to watch it over coming weeks if attainable. The international object could dislodge at some stage and the chicken will simply look utterly regular.
In 2010 I wrote of a Purple Knot that had a bivalve clamped onto its foot. Birds do have unlucky incidents generally.
