The avocet (
Recurvirostra avosetta), a black and white wading bird with spindly legs and a curious, long, upturned bill, has for many years been the symbol of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). They brought it back from near extinction in the UK to the point where, in some locations, it is now relatively common. This photograph was taken at Frampton Marsh RSPB reserve in Lincolnshire, a place where they breed and where there were a few dozen birds on the day we visited. My photograph is taken from the "wrong end" and though characteristic of the species as it sweeps its bill from side to side feeding, the shot makes a quite elegant bird look decidedly awkward.
photo © T. Boughen Camera: Nikon P900
