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
