Spoonbills (Platalea leucorodia) are named after their bizarre spatula-like bill. Generally feeding in flocks, they swing their slightly open beaks from side to side through shallow pools of water.

Their remarkable bill is packed full of sensors attuned to the tiniest vibrations, and once located, unlucky beetles, crustaceans, worms, small fish, tadpoles and frogs stand no chance of escape. 

Although they bred in East Anglia during Medieval times, Spoonbills had not bred in Britain for over 300 years until 2010, when a small colony was discovered on the north Norfolk coast.

Young Spoonbills are known affectionately as "teaspoons" and feed, as you can see in some of these shots, by putting their bills right down inside the throat of the parent,