Glossy Ibis for Christmas..........so much better than turkey!

Overcast all day with several showers. The west wind had eased somewhat.

South Shore (MD)

I had planned to go along the sea wall at first light, but after yesterday's exertions I didn't really feel up to it. Fortunately, I went anyway and was very pleased that I did!

Glossy Ibis 1 - it was still quite dark when I reached the harbour, it was resting on one of the platforms near the waterfall and having a preen. The gulls were quite happy to share the roost with it, but they were getting restless and moving on, leaving it alone on the platform.

Glossy Ibis, the first record for the recording area

It decided to move on, and as soon at it took to the air the large gulls were unhappy. Initially they chased it to the east, but it returned a few minutes later. It looked to be heading for the Heliport then the sand works, but the gulls wouldn't let it settle again, and eventually "chased" it to the south.  Although the gulls weren't happy the Ibis pretty much ignored them as it was so much quicker than the gulls. It is more accurate to say the gulls followed it to the south.

Here it is zipping around the harbour before passing overhead and heading south.

A very distinctive profile when seen side on

Yesterday I had a brief, distant glimpse of a gull chasing off a dark "heron like" bird high over the Power Station to the east. I did wonder then if it could have been a Glossy Ibis. Today's record suggests that it almost certainly was. The significance being that it is hanging around. 

And it was still around this afternoon. Seen by Pete and Jean flying over Middleton Nature Reserve. So hopefully it will be around to be found again tomorrow.

Shag 1 - amazingly the Ibis wasn't the only bird of interest on the platform in the harbour. This shag was also resting there first thing. This is the first Shag record since July.

Immature Shag

Rock Pipits 2 (Red Nab and Waterfall)

Imperial Rd (MD)

An early afternoon check really just to see if the Ibis was feeding in the fields to the east. Not even a Little Egret today!

Buzzard 1