Spoonbills and postcards
By frances r
@Dragonairy1 (1722)
Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
June 19, 2016 2:05pm CST
Over the last week or so there has been a flurry of excitement amongst twitchers (bird watchers) in my neck of the woods.
It was my husband who first commented on the number of them wondering past our house, down to the river with a camera. When he asked if I'd noticed I rather ungraciously grumbled something about being at work 
Any way we eventually wondered down ourselves to see what the fuss was about, and it was two spoonbills who are visiting the island in the middle of the river. When I googled them, partly to see what they were, I discovered they are migratory birds which are fairly rare this far north.
The week has also seen two postcards come through my door from alfredo and crazyhorselady 
something else which made me smile.
Ok this may or may not be a link to a video of the spoonbills 
Any way we eventually wondered down ourselves to see what the fuss was about, and it was two spoonbills who are visiting the island in the middle of the river. When I googled them, partly to see what they were, I discovered they are migratory birds which are fairly rare this far north.
The week has also seen two postcards come through my door from alfredo and crazyhorselady something else which made me smile.
Ok this may or may not be a link to a video of the spoonbills 
Two spoonbills at Castle Island on the River Wansbeck in June 2016
13 people like this
11 responses
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
20 Jun 16
@Dragonairy1 Ok - I've seen it now - thdy almost move in unison, don't they?
1 person likes this
@Dragonairy1 (1722)
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
20 Jun 16
It's nice to receive them isn't it 
I think thanks to some advice on here I've fixed the video
I think thanks to some advice on here I've fixed the video 1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
19 Jun 16
great that they drew such attention from bird watchers
2 people like this
@Dragonairy1 (1722)
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
20 Jun 16
Yes, especially as I watch and photo that many birds myself now I'm probably a closet bird watcher 
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
20 Jun 16
@Dragonairy1 I like birds though I rarely know what species I'm looking at - though I saw robins recently - never think of them off Xmas cards normally
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
19 Jun 16
so glad'ja got't :) sadly, the video link shows'n error 'n thus cannot be watched, but love the photo ya used with the discussion. seems the birds're takin' a cue'f sorts from mother nature, venturin' to where they aint normally found.. kinda like the cedar waxwings that delighted me'n early spring here. tickled that'cha got some pic's 'f 'em, perhaps a once'n a lifetime event :D big hugs!1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
28 Jun 16
@Dragonairy1 yippee! what a treat to watch 'em preen those feathers :D so glad that ms. @PainsOnSlate 'twas able to steer ya'n the correct direction so's such could be viewed. big hugs 'n love!
1 person likes this
@Dragonairy1 (1722)
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
27 Jun 16
I think the vid is working now, thanks to some advice from paintsonslates, and yep I think a once in a lifetime thing 
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
20 Jun 16
I love your video. They started out doing a duet of movements and looked like dancers...They are beautiful!
1 person likes this
@Dragonairy1 (1722)
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
20 Jun 16
I'm glad you liked it, it was good timing as I must have fixed it just before you looked. It was your advice which helped as when I looked again I remembered you had said to use the address at the top. So thank you
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
20 Jun 16
@Dragonairy1 whatever works, I loved it...if I helped I'm glad I did. Interesting...I did a double take, you've got a photo and and a video. i thought it was one or the other... good to know, maybe in the upgrade we can now do both...anyway...loved you video and photo.
1 person likes this
@Dragonairy1 (1722)
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
20 Jun 16
Fingers crossed it's now working, and I don't know maybe twitching from behind bushes
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325984)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jun 16
@Dragonairy1 Nice little video - both busy preening themselves.
1 person likes this
@Dragonairy1 (1722)
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
27 Jun 16
They're lovely to receive and send, if you'd like one from me feel free to pm me
1 person likes this
@Dragonairy1 (1722)
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
1 Jul 16
@Lucky15 England lol
1 person likes this
@Lucky15 (37346)
• Philippines
27 Jun 16
@Dragonairy1 you are.from ireland right?
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
19 Jun 16
They do look rather like a more tropical bird than one would expect t find that far north.
1 person likes this
@Dragonairy1 (1722)
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
27 Jun 16
I think they are, maybe they got lost when we had some nice weather 
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
19 Jun 16
I don't think I've ever seen those birds. We have a cheeky heron at work who likes to pretend he's a statue.
1 person likes this
@Dragonairy1 (1722)
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
27 Jun 16
I'm never sure if I like herons, I happily take their photo, but then I look at them and think they look kind of creepy
@Dragonairy1 (1722)
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
27 Jun 16
Neither had I, I'm wondering if the week of sunny weather encouraged them further north.
