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Spoonbill on Porlock Marsh

We were delighted to hear that a Spoonbill was spotted on Porlock Marsh earlier this month. Spoonbills are a very rare breeding bird in the UK and are protected under The Wildlife and Countryside Act.

This stunning photograph by Alastair Stevenson captured the juvenile when it visited Porlock Marsh on 8th February. We also received this heart-warming email from another member who spotted the Spoonbill…

To my delight, I saw my first Spoonbill adjacent to the boardwalk less than 30 feet away from me. I saw it again an hour later flying from the Bossington end in the direction of the boardwalk. Other people on the boardwalk at the same time must have thought I was crackers as I accosted them as they went past me, pointing and saying “It’s a spoonbill, look, it’s a spoonbill”.  It was something very special to see and I hope it is the fore-runner of many more.

Also in the news
A short typewritten pamphlet in our Archive entitled ‘Former Rectors of Porlock’ gives an intriguing account of how the Reformation affected St Dubricius Church in Porlock.
Only months after the Protected Landscapes Duty was threatened by amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, it once again faces new pressures from an independent report submitted to the government towards the end of last year.
Continuing our new feature for 2026, meet the wonderful volunteers, staff, and trustees that work behind the scenes at The Exmoor Society