Rejoining the colony

A long day at the Centre today. Decided to stop at Western Springs Lake on the way home so that I would be walking in late afternoon daylight. Many of the birds had already settled for the night by the time I got there.

The colony of spoonbills (Kotuku ngutupapa) numbers over 30 now. When I arrived seven were on rocks in the middle of the lake; six on one clump of rocks, and one by itself. I had seen one descending into the trees where the colony roost for the night, and I thought that if I were patient I could have a go at capturing the landing in a photo.

This photo is less than 10 seconds before it alighted in the tree.