If you're looking for a charismatic wading bird in the UK, the avocet should be on your list. This stunning bird can be found across much of the country, and in Hampshire, the best place to see them is at coastal reserves like Farlington Marshes, where they can be seen feeding in the mud in the harbour. 

Unlike many other bird species in the UK, avocets are actually thriving, with their numbers increasing in recent years. At Farlington Marshes, the overwintering population usually sits around 34, but critically the breeding population, which was only established a few years ago, has been steadily increasing year on year. 

In the spring, you can see these birds up close in their dazzling monochromatic refinement. They are pure white with a black cap and wing patches, but the most distinctive feature is their long upwards curved beak, which is used to filter invertebrates from the mud. They'll walk through the shallows, sweeping it side to side, allowing them to feed in one particular part of the mudflats or wetland area they are in. Other waders will undoubtedly be present, but they all have different beaks, reducing competition and enabling them to live in harmony. 

From late April to May, avocets will establish territories and nest. They nest in a scrape on the bare ground, with very little nesting material. You'll often see them on the bare ground at the edge of a ditch, much like the lapwing they often nest near. Avocet parents are exceptional, aggressively mobbing any potential threat and emitting a loud shriek that is carried across the whole marsh to draw in other avocets for defence. They'll see off predators like crows, buzzards, foxes, and even well-intentioned site managers who are just checking on them. 

Once the eggs hatch, the chicks take to the muddy areas to start feeding. Their curved beaks are obvious from hatching, and their gangly blue legs carry them around the edges of the pools where they feed. Unlike other wader species, they tend not to hide as much when alarmed, making them more visible but also more vulnerable. Luckily, their parents closely watch them until they are ready to fly.