Spoonbills

The black-faced Spoonbill (not to be confused with a Canadian prime minister) is a large, long-legged wading bird.

These are an endangered species, and a winter visitor to Mai Po marshlands in the New Territories where these photos were taken the 13th November earlier this year.

The genus name Platalea derives from Latin and means "broad", referring to the distinctive shape of the bill.

All spoonbills have large, flat, spatulate bills and feed by wading through shallow water, sweeping the partly opened bill from side to side.

The moment any small aquatic creature touches the inside of the bill—an insect, crustacean, or tiny fish—it is snapped shut. Spoonbills generally prefer fresh water to salt but are found in both environments. They need to feed many hours each day.

the balancing spoonbill....look, i can do a one legged downward dog!