After the whiskered tern a couple of weeks ago, we now have another rare bird making use of the wetland haven that Otmoor provides. The bird in question is a glossy ibis, a long-legged, long-billed, browny-purpley-glossy looking beast. They are normally found in Spain and Southern France but like wandering quite far afield and so the adventurous one on Otmoor is living up to the species’ nomadic tendencies. It is probably the same individual that has recently paid a visit to the other top birding sites in the county; Port Meadow and Farmoor. I don’t currently have any photos of the ibis on Otmoor but there is a video of it here looking for something tasty to eat; leeches, snails, worms, fish, snakes... they aren’t fussy. Mr Glossy was present on the reserve until at least 18:30 today, feeding in the wet corner of the Closes field (opposite the bird feeders).
On 6th Sept. 2003, I was on my early morning volunteer duty on Otmoor. From the second screen I was watching an attractive group of Blackwits through my scope (reed cover was much less then) when four birds dropped in to my field of view. My first impression was of very dark curlews but they were a bit odd! This was in the days before there were any smart phones but the reserve provided the vols with a cellphone that was kept in the vols hut. I failed to contact any (either?) of the reserve staff so called my friend Chris and described the birds to him. His only thought was that they could be glossy ibis, birds I had never seen. Checking my bird book he was obviously right. Not quite sure how it happened, but within an hour we had our first significant twitch on the main reserve. The birds stayed for a couple of hours and showed well to quite a number of birders. Some that missed them still remind me to this day!
And that's why I adopted my nom-de-plume!