The Glossy Ibis invasion September 2025.

 

 

We started seeing a few Glossy Ibis in at Walmsley sanctuary (the reserve I manage for Cornwall Birds) on the 5th Sept, not unusual as these birds are known as inveterate wanderers and have often turned up at this time of year. I had a report of 12 individuals using the whole Amble marshes SSI site but when I got down there with my camera I could only find 7,which was still a good count!

However by Sunday 7th things were kicking off in the County with 33 being seen around the Scillies, 34 at Predannick and then another large group (or the same group) at Ruan Lanihorne. 

I anticipated that we were in for a big group at Walmsley as it is a classic Ibis habitat and we had previously supported a group of 18 though a winter back in the winter of 21/22.

I got a call to say there was a big flock in the reserve and when I arrived I counted 41 birds. 

After a while our resident male Marsh Harrier spooked them and they flew off toward the Camel estuary.

That afternoon 50+  were recorded on the estuary and then later 92 were counted in at Walmsley.

Then they were gone!

Later that day there was a report of 91 flying over the River Dart at Totnes in South Devon... maybe 70 miles away.

Had to be the same flock, as by Tuesday morning there were none left at Walmsley or in the whole Amble valley.

I know that there has been a massive influx in Britain and I hear that 12k pairs bred in Coto Donana this spring with a high success rate. Water levels are now dropping in Spain so maybe we are picking up these birds, especially since we've had very strong Southerly winds of late.

Super birds to see and I'm hoping we may have a few to watch through the winter.........