Conservationists are celebrating the return of breeding Spoonbills to the Norfolk Broads after a 400 year absence.

A pair have successfully bred at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve at Hickling Broad.

Robert Smith, the trust’s senior reserves assistant for Broads North, said: “It has been a privilege to monitor the spoonbills over the past few years at Hickling and now we can officially celebrate the return of a former lost breeding species to the Broadland landscape with the first fledged spoonbill here since the mid-17th century.

“Watching the fledgling flying around the reserve and hearing its trilling begging call as it pesters its parents for food is a truly wonderful sight and sound.

Spoonbill, copyright Glyn Sellors, from the surfbirds galleries

“It shows that our work to enhance the habitats on our reserves and across Norfolk is hugely important to the survival of our wildlife, including visitors such as the spoonbill.”