Glossy ibis drops in for a long visit

A glossy ibis dropped into the fen at the left hand side of the Scrape hide last Sunday morning and has been spotted there off and on this week.

We are seeing the ibis in the mornings and late afternoons to roost and it seems to be ranging about during the day. Thanks to visitor Daniel Boon for the photo. The last glossy ibis we had onsite at Arundel was nine years ago on March 31, 2013.

Glossy ibis were once a rarity in UK but in recent years there have been several national influxes according to Sussex Ornithological Society. The glossy ibis used to only breed in the Balkans and Black Sea states but they now breed in Spain and are moving into Southern France.

Daily sightings by WWT Reserve wardens

These sightings target site locations on a rotating basis on a morning walk-through of the site.

Wed 26 Jan

Arun Riverlife lagoon: 2 pochards, 2 mute swans

Scrape hide: 1 glossy ibis, 2 wigeon, 2 gadwall, 12 Canada geese, 2 shelducks, 9 mallards, 12 shovelers

Tues 25 Jan

Arun Riverlife: 5 pochards

Ramsar & Sand martin hide: 1 carrion crow, 2 black-headed gulls, 1 blackbird, 12 mallards, 1 teal

Old Trumpeter Pen: 3 water rail

Scrape hide: 1 glossy ibis, 1 wigeon, 14 shovelers, and 2 shelducks.

Mon 24 Jan

Scrape hide: 1 glossy ibis, roosted overnight and was there in afternoon again

Sun 23 Jan

Wetland Discover: 3 pheasants, 3 mallards, 6 Canada geese, 1 Cetti’s warbler, 1 coot

Arun Riverlife: 6 pochards in three pairs

Reedbed: 1 glossy ibis at 9.30 am

Scrape hide: 1 glossy ibis at 4.30 pm

Sat 22 Jan

Arun Riverlife: 16 male and 9 female mallards, 11 shelducks, 2 mute swans, 14 Canada geese, 3 male and 2 female pochards, 2 male and 3 female tufted ducks, 2 coots, 1 little grebe, 4 moorhens

Scrape hide: a pair of wigeon

Reedbed: a great spotted woodpecker

Wood loop: 1 water rail

Fri 21 Jan

Arun Riverlife: 12 shelducks, 2 teal

Long path crossroads: 1 kingfisher female fishing

Wood Loop: 3 pheasants, 2 wood pigeons, 1 water rail, 3 moorhens, 14 blue tits, 3 great tits, 2 dunnocks, 1 robin, 3 chaffinch

Thurs 22 Jan

Scrape Hide: 3 male and 2 female shoveler, 41 Canada geese, a pair of teal, 14 mallards, 2 coots, 1 moorhen

Sand martin hide: 2 lapwing

Long path: 1 kingfisher

Wood Loop: 7 blue tits, 2 chaffinch, 1 water rail, 2 sparrows

Arun Riverlife: 9 coots, 2 moorhens, 7 Canada geese, 6 greylag, 13 shelducks, 4 tufted ducks, 1 pair of pochard, 1 mallards

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