When is a fly-over not a fly-over? When it’s the 7th Glossy Ibis for Northamptonshire!
On Saturday 13th February, Nick Parker was birding at Thrapston GP when he was lucky enough to pick up a Glossy Ibis flying south at around 11.30. Expectant birders at Stanwick kept their eyes to the skies, hopeful it would appear there. Unfortunately, it didn’t. That would have been the end of it but for Dick Curtiss relocating it late yesterday afternoon on Islip Water Meadows, before it flew off toward Aldwincle. Clearly, it hadn’t gone far since the initial sighting.
Today it was back again on Islip Water Meadows and according to locals, well, it’s been there four or five days …
Unlike all previous occurrences in the county, this one has stayed for longer than an hour and a half and is the 7th for Northants.
Set in context, following a small influx last autumn, November-February has seen several birds wintering in the UK. Three are currently present together at Earith in Cambridgeshire, at least one is wandering throughout Bedfordshire, four are at one site in Devon and singles are ensconced in Dorset and Kent.
Northants birds 