Glossy Ibis at Frampton Marsh RSPB (again!)

It always seems to rain or else be extremely miserable when I visit Frampton Marsh. The other weekend was no different when myself and Chris Orders paid a visit.

The day started extremely foggy with visibility down to 50 yards, if that, but we hadn't been out for a while and so we proceeded with our trip. The main object was to see if we could get any views of a juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard that had been frequenting the area, but also just to have a walk around and probably pay our respects to the long staying Glossy Ibis. We arrived at the Buzzards favoured site where there were already some birders viewing the distance and telling us that they could see the bird in some distant trees. We viewed this through our scopes and whilst there was definitely a bird there, neither of us were very happy with the views and so we found a spot to view the bird that bit closer. We saw the bird fly, but at this instance we both identified it as a Common Buzzard, not a Rough-legged one. After spending a couple of hours looking for this bird, we decided to cut our losses and go to the RSPB's reserve.

A very pleasant walk was had, seeing lots of Brent Geese, Wigeon and a few waders, but on returning to the car park we were greeted with quite good views of the Glossy Ibis. It then started to rain..........and rain..........and rain a bit more. We were entrenched in my van, but good views were had as the bird continued to move a bit closer and was seen actively feeding and doing a spot of wing stretching. I just wish the sun would have come out, maybe next time!

A first-summer bird arrived at this site on June 14th and was joined by a second on the 26th. These two birds then started displaying and a nest was started to be built, excitement grew on the site as this breed has never bred in this country, despite numerous oversummering birds. Alas, this was not to be and by the 19th July only one bird remained and has continued to do so, at least until mine and Chris's visit the other weekend. I wonder if the other bird will return next year and the two can give it another go?!

Glossy Ibis at Frampton Marsh RSPB

This Glossy Ibis has been present at Frampton for what seems an absolute age now, but I hadn't got around to visiting for one reason and another. The other weekend there was a report of a Lesser Yellowlegs at the site which gave me some impetus to go. The Yellowlegs gave us the run around for a bit, but was duly seen and then I decided to try and photograph the obliging Glossy Ibis. I am afraid that I went a bit mad, taking far too many photos, but digital photography is a marvellous thing enabling me to delete two-thirds of the rubbish, leaving not quite as bad rubbish!

And last, but not least, an obliging juvenile Swallow,

Glossy Ibis at Lowdham

Whilst in the county of Nottinghamshire we thought that it would be rather rude not to visit this rather showy Glossy Ibis that has taken to frequenting a cow field by a busy main road. Many birders parking on this road added to the chaos, but the bird showed well and after finding a way across some rather smelly, muddy fields I managed to get fairly close to a bird that used to be pretty rare in this country, but is becoming an annual visitor.

Glossy Ibis

Some rubbish, very distant digiscoped shots of two Glossy Ibis that were found on the Nene Washes, RSPB near Peterborough today. This represents the second sighting of this breed of bird in the Peterborough area for me, the first being a single bird that visited Maxey GP a couple of years ago.

The weather was not conducive to photography today, being extremely foggy, hence the grainy shots. These birds were seen feeding until a jet fighter flew extremely low over the area scaring the birds and causing them to fly to an area out of sight. Later reports showed the birds to still be present, so hopefully they will hang around until the sun makes an appearance!

A very welcome addition to my 2012 PBC list.