Glossy ibis flock arrives at Slimbridge

Kymba · #1 (**permalink**) 27-04-2007, 02:02 PM

Glossy ibis are very rare in the UK, usually just 1-2 turn up every 5 years, so staff at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) were astounded when 17 Glossy Ibis turned up on its reserve at Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, on Friday 20th April – and they are showing no signs of wanting to move on.

Read this an thought i would share it with you incase someof you are near enough to pop down for a look

Mexico · #2 (**permalink**) 04-05-2007, 03:58 PM

Kymba
I've been down to see the Glossy Ibis at Saul Warth and a good view too! There were only four visible when I was there, but watching the local birding websites it turns out that all seventeen were there yesterday! They were feeding very actively and looking glorious in the late afternoon sun.

Mex

nightshade · #3 (**permalink**) 04-05-2007, 05:22 PM

I wish I had seen this earlier I like Ibis and have yet to see one
I have not seen an Egret for years either

Tursiops2 · #4 (**permalink**) 04-05-2007, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightshade

I wish I had seen this earlier I like Ibis and have yet to see one
I have not seen an Egret for years either

They're still present at Frampton, nightshade, and likely to linger by all accounts. I'd be happy to see just one, let alone a flock of seventeen.

T2

Madelinew · #5 (**permalink**) 05-05-2007, 02:39 PM

Wow - Any photos anyone?

We have a pair of Egrets out on the sands at Ryde each year. A birding guy I've met a few times at a local hide elsewhere on the Island insists that those in the know say they're not breeding but there were 4 there one year and I would have thought they may have been offspring - the two have been there a few years now. Beautiful little birds.

I was watching them in Ryde harbour last summer and a couple of holiday makers were talking about them describing them as white herons they thought. I managed to butt in and talk quite knowledgeably about them for a few minutes saying how they weren't really native but had in recent years moved north from Europe and were setting up permanent residence more and more and that some were escapees from bird parks. They were VERY impressed.

What I didn't say was that I was repeating word for word what Bloddie had been saying on a birding programme only the night before on the Beeb!