Glossy Ibis………… yes really, can you imagine the sight by the Cricket field at Budleigh Salterton this lunchtime?  I took a break from Dippers and Kingfishers and did a bit of "twitching" which, frankly I don't enjoy too much. All the crowds and funny looks from passing non-birders who think you are some kind of weirdo even though they never say so. I hate being part of something and one of the crowd, but I just had to go to Budleigh today when for the third day running, 20 Glossy Ibis were reported. I can't honestly say if 20 have ever been seen together in the Uk before but I suspect not.  They are annually reported in the UK so it's not all that unusual and this is migration time after alll. Anyway, what a sight and what a show, a real spectacle and well worth the trip, parking ticket and funny looks from the non-birders after all. They were, as luck would have it very close to the path when I got there, and the 10 or so birders were already getting really good views. I rattled off lots of snaps to try and get something, it's never easy when you can't get as near as you would want to but I finished up with a few good images that captured the spectacle I think.

This is a species that I have seen before and quite often when abroad.  They are one of those species that are common in other parts of the world and the last time I saw one was in Florida in April. The story about these birds is interesting and very believable.  Several were ringed with the usual over the top and disfiguring 'jewellery"  but without these rings we wouldn't be able to know where they had originated.  Apparently, Northern Spain. On migration the hide been blow off course and finished up flying north and not south.  Quite what they are going to do now is a mystery, I should imagine that when it gets a bit colder they will perhaps "come to their senses" and then fly south again and hopefully this time finish up in Africa which is where they should be right now.  They all appear to be juveniles which again is quite interesting. What is going to be interesting is to see where they will disperse to, will they stay at Budleigh or go further west towards Exminster Marsh or perhaps the other way to Seaton Marsh, either way it's going to add to the interest. 

I had a look at my hide this evening just to keep tabs on my Kingfisher really. I was pleased when she put on a nice show for me, bathing and preening.  The only real difference was the state of the light, in fact it was almost dark and there she was bathing which was a big surprise to be honest. Using the flash, I managed some nice shots of her which were a bit different. I don't think she is the prettiest of Kingfishers at the moment to be honest.  She seems to have a very long beak and she is a bit ragged around the chest but that should improve when she completes her moult.