30 January 2012

Glossy Ibises in 2012

Glossy Ibises are rare birds in Pembs or were until there was an amazing and unprecedented invasion of Glossy Ibises into Pembrokeshire in January 2012, perhaps as a result of drought and resulting poor feeding and breeding conditions in southern Spain.The influx started with two birds together over Neyland Marina on 7th January. Then two flew over Whitesands St Davids on the 13th and there was one at Sageston on 14th. Three were then found at Marloes on 15th , unlike the shy St Davids birds these were very confiding and photogenic. There was apparently some movement between this site and Tacumshin, Ireland but one is still present at Marloes at time of writing (November). The St Davids birds were relocated on 22nd and remained until 1st February. These records were all eclipsed somewhat by an amazing 23 which were in the Carew area from approximately 29th before dropping in number to 14 on 6th February and reducing to four which were last seen on 14th February.  This was, apparently, the second largest flock ever seen in Britain; only eclipsed by a flock of 25 in Carmarthenshire in 2009. There was, apparently, also a single bird in the Walwyns Castle area on 31st January.


The unphotogenic St Davids birds - photo Byron Davies

The showy Marloes birds

Again

And again

Some of the Carew flock - photos Richard Crossen

Again

And again



Glossy Ibises have been considered by BBRC until 2012 but is likely to become a WRP candidate.

Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire

Slebech autumn 1834 per Matthews 1894
Tenby 23rd October 1917 (Lockley et al 1949)
The Gann 20th August 1876 (RW)
The Gann & Marloes Mere 15th-16th June 1996 (MC DPD KJSD)  [also Skokholm 19th (GT)]
Neyland Marina 2 on 7th January (AJH)
St Davids 2 from 13th January - 31st January (MYP et al)
Sageston 14th January (unknown)
Marloes Mere 15th January one remaining to November (MH et al)
Carew from approx 29th January to  (RE et al)
Walwyns Castle 31st January (unknown)