Birdwatchers rejoice! Exotic Glossy Ibis usually found in the Mediterranean starts breeding in the UK – with a staggering 605 birds recorded across Britain and Ireland

Boasting a long, curved bill and iridescent feathers, these heron–like birds are most commonly spotted on the Mediterranean coast.

But the exotic Glossy Ibis has started breeding in the UK, experts have confirmed, with hundreds of birds recorded across Britain and Ireland.

Birdwatchers have reported a huge influx of flocks, with the arrival breaking all modern records for the species.

Modest numbers of the Ibis began to arrive at the start of this month, most in the south and south–west of England, BirdGuides reports.

Since then, more and more have continued to arrive, with 605 recorded across the UK on Monday 8 September.

The elegant wading birds are occasional visitors to the UK, but increased sightings and a confirmed breeding pair in 2022 indicate they could soon be making a regular appearance.

’25 years ago the species was considered something of a mega rarity in Britain, but the incidence of records has increased significantly since then,’ Josh Jones, editor of Birdwatch magazine, said.

‘The arrival of 17 Glossy Ibis in Gloucestershire in early May 2007 was considered a complete shock at the time, but such influxes have since become more commonplace in both spring and autumn.’

The Glossy Ibis (pictured), which mainly lives in Mediterranean countries like Spain and Greece, could soon become a common sight in the UK

Up close the wings, tail and much of the body shimmers with an iridescent green and purple, as seen here

According to the Wildlife Trust, it’s predicted that Glossy Ibis breeding will become more common as climate change results in drier summers in southwest Europe and milder winters in the UK.

‘Most Glossy Ibises arrive in autumn, occasionally staying through the winter, though they could be seen in any month,’ they said.

‘It’s often young birds that turn up here, sometimes just months after leaving the nest.’

Bird ringing projects have allowed experts to keep track of where the visiting birds have travelled from, with many hailing from southwest Spain.

The species is usually found in wetlands or damp fields, using their long bill to probe the mud for food.

Their diet is varied and consists of invertebrates like water beetles and dragonfly larvae, as well as the occasional newt, frog or lizard.

An adult stands up to 65cm (25.5 inches) tall with long legs, a long neck and a long, curlew–like bill. They have a wingspan of up to 105cm (41 inches) and weigh up to 630g.

Up close the wings, tail and much of the body shimmers with an iridescent green and purple.

A juvenile Glossy Ibis previously spotted in Christchurch, Dorset. So far this month there have been hundreds of sightings across the UK

A Glossy Ibis feeding in a Carmargue marsh in southern France. The species is most common spotted on the Mediterranean coast

A recent report by the Rare Breeding Birds Panel revealed the first confirmed breeding of Glossy Ibis in the UK.

In 2022, a pair raised a chick at a Cambridgeshire wetland, marking a milestone for the species.

‘The Glossy Ibis has become more familiar to birdwatchers following a series of mass arrivals in the 2000s,’ the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) said. ‘There have been a number of breeding attempts here, and it is likely that more regular breeding will be a feature in the future.’

Malcolm Ausden, Principal Ecologist at the RSPB, said: ‘Large numbers of Glossy Ibises have recently arrived in the UK. This is largely due to a few factors. 

‘A good breeding season in Spain, likely caused by a wet winter, meant wetlands were in good condition for the species to feed and find suitable breeding habitat. These wetlands dry up to varying extents in late summer forcing the birds to naturally disperse and a southerly airflow allowed favourable conditions for Glossy Ibises to head north towards the UK. 

‘The flocks seen in the UK at the moment are benefitting from conservation efforts once they arrive – many of the wetlands in Britain used by Glossy Ibises have been created in recent years by conservation organisations like the RSPB. 

‘During the recent influx, they have been spotted on a number of RSPB reserves including RSPB Marazion Marsh in Cornwall and RSPB Wallasea Island in Essex. 

‘The species usually only first breeds from its second year onwards and can’t survive very hard winters in the UK, so it is likely many of these Glossy Ibises will leave the UK. Some may try to overwinter so ensuring good habitat is available will support remaining birds.’