ROYAL SPOONBILL Platalea regia

There is a flock of around a doz. Royal Spoonbills in the estuary this winter
( similar to last year ) They are a self introduced bird since around the 1850's -also found in Australia and New Guinea. They breed at Okarito on the West Coast SI. associating themselves with their Kotuku cousins.
There have been attempts to get them to breed here but to date no success. I believe they may well be breeding down in the Catlins ( someone may put me right on that one ?)
They breed November to December -Nest of sticks - in a colony on higher trees than the White Heron. ( Kotuku- or great egret.)
Nice cold encounter this morning.
rgds poo