Glossy Ibis - an increasing touch of the exotic in the British countryside
This weekend there seemed to be reports of Glossy Ibis all over East Anglia, including one at Eaton Marshes , right next to the University of East Anglia, within the city limits of Norwich. Previously I had only seen this species in southern Africa, so it seems amazing to now see them this far North and within walking distance of my house.
According to Ausden et al. (2018), numbers of Glossy Ibis recorded in Britain have increased dramatically since the mid-2000s, mirroring an increase in their breeding population in southwest Europe, especially in Doñana (south Spain). Glossy Ibis tend to be recorded in Britain in years when smaller numbers have bred in Doñana. A higher proportion of Glossy Ibises then tend to be present in Britain in spring compared to the previous autumn, when temperatures are higher during the winter in between.
