The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Pete Haywood called me at 4.25 p.m. to say that he was viewing the Glossy Ibis in the field near the Moggs Eye turn
It has a metal ring on the right leg and a white plastic ring on the left leg with number/letters 6PJ

I have checked on the CR Birding web site and it looks as if this might be a Spanish ringed bird as the combination of metal ring on right and white on left with an alpha/numeric combination ties up.

Regards,
Roy.

Have spoken to Pete again and he said the bird flew off south, possibly to roost, at about 4.35 p.m.

Roy.

I spoke with Pete Haywood about 4.35pm. He did indeed say the bird had flown south. However, 5 minutes after Pete left the bird got up again and flew south landing not more then 500 to 600 meters from the flooded fieldwhere it had apparently been showing well. Will hopefully have roosted and be performing tomorrow morning!

Nige

Just to update the situation with todays news.
Linda & I arrived on site just before 0800, GPC and Keith Scott were already there.
Graham said he had first located the bird at about 0715. Early views were not good with the Glossy Ibis seeming wary but when the birders moved a little further south, so as to give it more space, it proceeded to show well. Conditions were extremely difficult with a bitterly cold south-west - almost gale-force wind blowing. Anyone that got a sharp shot whilst digiscoping deserves a medal!
Most of the big Lincs. listers were soon on the scene – Kev. Wilson, Andy Sims, Mike Tarrant, Barry Clarkson & John Clarkson, with all needing it for their county tally. At around 10.20 a.m. the Ibis became a little restless and had a short flight, soon after it disappeared behind trees when moving in a southerly direction. A search of fields adjacent to the road in the Anderby Creek direction was unproductive.
It is believed that this is the first Lincolnshire record of Glossy Ibis since 1976, doubtless others will have full details of all previous county sightings.

Roy.

Glossy Ibis

Read's Island 1 shot autumn 1869
Skegness 9 September 1881 1 imm male shot
Skegness 27 October 1881 1 shot
Tetney North Cotes 29 September 1923 1
Rimac 5 November 1975 1
Gib Point 16 May 1976 1
Wisbech SF 16 May 1976 1 to 18th

from my files unless there are any others lurking anywhere

The Glossy Ibis was relocated in the Highland Cattle enclosure by Steve Lorand late this morning. I got a call from John Clarkson around 12 via John Walker (thanks to all 3) and I got down to Howdens Pullover and then biked the 1.5 miles N up the sea wall. It was showing well between 12.30 and 1 pm feeding in the wet grass in the SE corner of the enclosure about 30 yards from the dunes. It looked pretty settled and hopefully it will stick if people give it some distance.

Quite a relief after spending the last 3 days chasing about between Gib and N Cotes!

The Highland Cattle enclosure is quite an inaccessible spot. I've just checked on the os map and the distances are

Stonebridge carpark 2.2 miles

Redgates 1.3 miles

Howdens Pullover 1.45 miles

I would guess the warden would not want anyone to drive through the "red gates" (which are no longer there!) as it annoys the landowner and causes problems for those with regular access.

The advantage of Howdens Pullover is there is plenty of parking and more importantly if the Ibis gets flushed theres a good chance you will see it flying over your head going south!

Hi Phil

For anyone reading this who is not too familiar with the precise geography of cattle enclosures and car parks, could you please give more general directions to the bird. I've heard of Howden's Pullover, but have not the foggiest where it is! Is it still in the general vicinity of Anderby Creek, or much further north?

Thanks,

Howden's Pullover is to the north of Saltfleet near Skidbrooke North End.

It is signposted off the A1031 and the grid reference for the car park is TF 448 953.

Good luck.

_________________
Regards,

Andy.

If the Ibis stays where it was when we saw it I do not believe it is possible to see it from the sea wall as there is a high bank beside the scrape in which it was feeding. Steve Lorand took Linda & I along the seaward side of the scrub between the scrape and the foreshore and we entered the scrub through a narrow track, stopping well before the paddock fencing.
The entrance to this narrow track is marked with a green Castrol oil drum.
I believe it imperative that birders do not enter the cattle field from the control tower end as the Ibis is very wary and flushes easily. Great care also needs to be taken to keep low and not stand at full height as this also seems to disturb the bird.
I suggest the best place to park is Donna Nook Stonebridge car park then walk south, again for about 1.5 miles. Carry on about 600 metres past the last conrol tower keeping the scrub on the right of you, then look out for the Castrol oil drum and carefully enter at this point.
I would be interested to know from Colin & Sheila Jennings how they got on after we left - apart from getting wet feet!

Roy.

Thanks Andy and Roy.

You can always rely on the BTO to come up with the goods.....

This Glossy Ibis was ringed as a nestling at Fao, Donana (southern Spain) in June 2006. Quite an impressive movement, but this is the first report since ringing, and is the BTO's first ever recovery of the species.

By the way, if anyone sees anything else with colour rings or marks then don't forget to report them via www.ring.ac

Mark Grantham
BTO Ringing Scheme

Fao in Spain ? There's certainly a Donana in Spain of course but I can only find a Fao in Portugal. Mind you, I can get lost easily anywhere !

Mark
Is this the first known report of a colour ringed GI in the UK?

Just a quick response. There is an artificial Lucio ( lagoon ) de Fao in Donana which has a wonderful Heronry - 6 species. Glossy Ibis also breeds there in some numbers. This would seem to fit in with Grant's info.