Not quite Hattersley but close enough. The bird was seen perched on a tree stump next to a dip with shrubs around it, possibly a pond, in a field south of Matley Lane not far from The Rising Moon pub. It then flew north, crossing the lane.
sammiejojo said
Wed Aug 22 3:06 AM, 2012
its outside my house a lot :) callington drive opposite the four in hand pub
Mike Price said
Sat Aug 18 4:28 AM, 2012
Just incase anyone is interested it's back, father inlaw sent me a photo of it this evening wondering what it was
philmoss said
Fri Aug 3 1:56 PM, 2012
Bald Ibis flying over Hattersley end of M67 this morning at 6.20 am. Phil Moss.
James Kelday said
Sun Jul 29 4:35 AM, 2012
Rob Smallwood wrote:
Any further sightings? Would like a pic for my "plastic" list....
Not seen it for a week. Sorry.
Rob Smallwood said
Sat Jul 28 12:00 AM, 2012
Any further sightings? Would like a pic for my "plastic" list....
James Kelday said
Fri Jul 20 5:01 AM, 2012
Iain Johnson wrote:
Does anyone know if the ibis still around please?
Yes, it's still here...... at least it was this afternoon.
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Jul 20 1:21 AM, 2012
My job is merely to put the information out there Roger; I keep any ideas on origins to myself . That said, it was always worth seeing merely as a fine looking bird if nothing else.
I've also posted Sacred Ibis, Harris Hawk, Ringed Teal and once, a parrot, on this forum too though
Roger Baker 3 said
Fri Jul 20 1:09 AM, 2012
HaHaHa ! Now come on Ian you can't blame us lot ........ you set the snowball rolling.
A Bald Ibis (the previously wandering bord from Cheshire?) has been present for about two weeks on fields at Ken Ward Sports Centre in Hattersley, Hyde, off West Hattersley Road. Still present at 4:10pm today
Roger
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Jul 20 12:49 AM, 2012
Mystery?
To some perhaps...
Roger Baker 3 said
Fri Jul 20 12:27 AM, 2012
The bird is an escapee from Blackbrook Zoological Park.
Hoooray ! Mystery solved.
Roger.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Jul 19 11:30 PM, 2012
Iain Johnson wrote:
Does anyone know if the ibis still around please?
In the immortal words of John McEnroe, 'you cannot be serious'...
Iain Johnson said
Thu Jul 19 11:25 PM, 2012
Does anyone know if the ibis still around please?
Garry Shepperd said
Thu Jul 19 10:14 PM, 2012
Blackbrook is a few miles NW of Stoke, so it's not too far from home! Here's one of my better shots of the Ibis >> http://www.flickr.com/photos/garryshepperd/7585049416/in/photostream
Pete Hines said
Thu Jul 19 8:41 PM, 2012
A quick google http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/wildlife/f/13609/t/82926.aspx
The bird is an escapee from Blackbrook Zoological Park.
James Kelday said
Fri Jul 13 5:20 PM, 2012
Garry Shepperd wrote:
I'm rather annoyed, I gave permission to the MEN to publish my picture and NOT the Daily Mirror. On enquiring, they told me they pay the Manchester Evening News a fee for such images to publish. Robbery?
I gave my permission to The Reporter Group to publish my pictures..... then they didn't! Gutted!
Garry Shepperd said
Fri Jul 13 4:46 PM, 2012
I'm rather annoyed, I gave permission to the MEN to publish my picture and NOT the Daily Mirror. On enquiring, they told me they pay the Manchester Evening News a fee for such images to publish. Robbery?
After a photoshoot in Los Angeles, and jetting to London for more newspaper interviews!
"Theo" the Bald Ibis has made it into the national press
Adam Jones said
Sun Jul 8 3:21 AM, 2012
That will be why I couldn't find it this morning then.
Roger Baker 3 said
Sun Jul 8 1:53 AM, 2012
Probably suffering from "stage fright".
Lets see where it turns up next.
Roger.
James Kelday said
Sat Jul 7 8:27 PM, 2012
James Walsh wrote:
Spoke to Alison @ Ken Ward Leisure Centre this morning, apparently there were no sightings of the Ibis yesterday
I saw it flying away to the west (towards Manchester) yesterday evening. Flying quite high and straight, as if it knew where it was going!
James Walsh said
Sat Jul 7 6:56 PM, 2012
According to the The International Union for the Conservation of Nature website vagrancy has occurred in the Republic of Cape Verde, Mali, Somalia, Western Sahara, Germany, Serbia, Portugal & Spain
Spoke to Alison @ Ken Ward Leisure Centre this morning, apparently there were no sightings of the Ibis yesterday
steve ashworth said
Sat Jul 7 5:38 PM, 2012
No further sign of Bald Ibis this morning:
James Kelday said
Sat Jul 7 12:54 AM, 2012
James Walsh wrote:
from my experiences yesterday this bird is certainly becoming a local celebrity
I think you're right there..... the local press emailed me asking if they could use my Flickr photographs for a newspaper article.
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Jul 7 12:26 AM, 2012
James Walsh wrote:
Natural vagrancy defo remote, but with an un-ringed bird, could not definately be ruled out
Perhaps we should have looked more closely at our influx of Ringed Teal a couple of years back, which bore no leg irons too
James Walsh said
Sat Jul 7 12:14 AM, 2012
Natural vagrancy defo remote, but with an un-ringed bird, could not definately be ruled out.........this bird probably offers better insurance than Barclays at the moment
The wider picture of Northern Bald Ibis global conservation awareness has defo been promoted a little more by "Theo" & from my experiences yesterday this bird is certainly becoming a local celebrity
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Jul 6 11:17 PM, 2012
Okay, sitting on the fence here, just a point.
Being unringed has less bearing on it's escapee likelihood than you might think I'm afraid. I've gone into very (very) detailed research about a couple of similar species which if it proved one thing, is that we have less idea what is being kept in captivity in the UK than you might think and similarly, less than you might think are ever ringed.
Occurrences of Slender-billed Curlew and Blue-cheeked Bee-eater have no real relevance in proving any potential vagrancy, which must surely be so remote, especially against the escape factor, that its no surprise that the hoards of British elite twitchers are not descending on Hattersley.
Note that one at Sandbach Flashes back in September 2011 was 'unringed and fully winged' too
James Walsh said
Fri Jul 6 9:08 PM, 2012
The Hattersley bird appears to be un-ringed, if this is the case I would guess that my preliminary research suggests that it is either
a) a captive bird from a UK or European zoo/collection that has not been ringed & has escaped
b) a re-introduction scheme bird that has not been ringed (this seems very unlikely), or possibly an un-ringed offspring of re-introduction scheme birds
c) a wild bird from the Moroccan population (all the photos I have seen of these are of un-ringed birds)
d) a bird that has been ringed & the ring/s have come off
The safe money is on a zoo/collection escapee, but if it is un-ringed perhaps that increases the chances of genuine vagrancy a little (a la Slender-billed Curlew, White-crowned Black Wheatear, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater)
James Walsh said
Fri Jul 6 8:58 PM, 2012
Latest information
This from my Wildlife Law lecturer, Dr Rees
It is normal practice for zoos to ring most birds for identification purposes. This is essential for the maintenance of veterinary and breeding records. It is not a legal requirement that animals should be marked but there is a requirement to keep records and obviously this is not possible if individuals cannot be distinguished from each other. Zoos sometimes double ring one ring has a number and the other indicates the sex (depending on which leg is ringed)
Chris Greene said
Fri Jul 6 6:44 PM, 2012
Was thinking of pooping up to Hattersley,to have a quick look at the said bird,however my missus doesn't seem too keen.... she's got a bit of a phobia about bald ibises,since one of the captive specimens at Pensthorpe literally covered her in foul smelling "ibis pooh",earlier this year!
Cheers Chris.
James Kelday said
Fri Jul 6 5:59 PM, 2012
I have posted a photo of said birdy on Flickr, I managed to get a few shots of it on my neighbours roof yesterday morning. Unfortunately I am unable to post a link. If you want to search for it on Flickr, my screen name is James Kelday.
James Walsh said
Fri Jul 6 3:23 PM, 2012
There's now a thread on birdfoum for this bird
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=234730
Have made a few enquiries, shall update here if I hear anything interesting
Phil Panton said
Fri Jul 6 2:46 PM, 2012
This is what fascinates me about this hobby...the intrigue, the doubts, the debates. Your head says its an escapee, but your heart wants it to be for real., yet you know you have to go & see it, just to satisfy your curiousity.
Was taking to a friend recently who said that he had lost interest in birding in this country, yet he's making plans to visit one of the less salubrious areas of Tameside over the weekend...just in case !
Garry Shepperd said
Fri Jul 6 7:28 AM, 2012
@ James Walsh. The comparison doesn't end there, I'd bet the Bird is crap at footy too?
James Walsh said
Fri Jul 6 6:45 AM, 2012
PPS Due to it's liking of the football pitch, perhaps a reasonable nickname for this bird could be Theo Waldrapp
James Walsh said
Fri Jul 6 6:42 AM, 2012
Some more Northern Bald Ibis (NBI) facts & figures
- The IUCN (The International Union for the Conservation of Nature) list NBI as Critically Endangered
- CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) list NBI as Appendix I (species threatened with extinction & trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances)
PS Just for the record, I haven't got an unhealthy obsession or a job as a wildlife detective, I have to learn all this type of stuff for my University degree course
James Walsh said
Fri Jul 6 6:33 AM, 2012
Hi Steve,
Thanks for the info/links, interesting to hear that some of the Austrian re-introduction birds migrated north as far as Holland
However, all the footage & images of re-introduction scheme birds I've seen seem to show birds generally with 3-4 rings on
Steve Cummings said
Fri Jul 6 5:32 AM, 2012
For info on the Austrian Waldrapp-Projekt have a look at the documentary, "Return of the Waldrapp" that I made back in 2003/2004 It's in 4 parts in the "Uploaded videos" section, and also listed in the "Worldwide Conservation Issues" section.
Link is here:-
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheBaldIbis
James Walsh said
Thu Jul 5 10:43 PM, 2012
Un-ringed, fully-winged Northern Bald Ibis (of unknown origin), Hattersley, is elusive but favoured feeding area is the lush lower terrace field adjacent to the Ken Ward Leisure Centre, also gets on the house rooves
Directions: From M67 take j4 onto A560 south, then right onto Underwood Road, then left onto West Hattersley Road, & view the fields & rooftops adjacent to the Leisure Centre
Quality meeting Roger Baker & John Rayner, big thanks to the Leisure Centre staff for hospitality
The bird had taken flight about 11.00 circling infront of Werneth Low en-route to Damascus . A tractor mounted chemical sprayer was entering its favoured field at 11.30 when I left.
Roger Baker 3 said
Thu Jul 5 3:30 PM, 2012
Thurs July 5th. 06.45 - 07.30 hrs.
Was just beginning to think that the bird had flown when it popped its head up out of a ditch far side of the playing field (in front of a large greenhouse frame).
Harassed by a Crow and several Magpies it took off and circled a couple of times before dropping down into some rough land behind the houses.
Roger.
Garry Shepperd said
Thu Jul 5 9:41 AM, 2012
I was that local who inadvertently spooked the Bald Ibis (sorry) Fortunately, I drove down fields farm road and spotted it on a roof top.
-- Edited by Garry442 on Thursday 5th of July 2012 09:59:03 AM
Karen Foulkes said
Thu Jul 5 4:56 AM, 2012
Despite its very dubious origins, certainly a bird worth seeing and upon leaving it this evening it was perched on the apex of a house, after a local wanting a photograph flushed it. A local Crow also took exception to it!
As soon as the locals saw us arrive they were keen to tell us the bird has been present for around two weeks.
I believe there will be a piece about it in the Tameside Advertiser next week.
Just shows what can be missed on an unchecked playing field in Hattersley
James Walsh said
Thu Jul 5 4:53 AM, 2012
A very interesting species, looks like there are more captive birds present in zoos than there are in the wild/re-introduction programmes
James Walsh said
Thu Jul 5 4:33 AM, 2012
Previous UK Records for Bald Ibis on birdguides.com
Rudyard Reservoir (Staffs) 26th May 2012 Sandbach Flashes (Cheshire) 11th September 2011 Blackpool (Lancashire) 2001/2002
Not quite Hattersley but close enough.
The bird was seen perched on a tree stump next to a dip with shrubs around it, possibly a pond, in a field south of Matley Lane not far from The Rising Moon pub.
It then flew north, crossing the lane.
Not seen it for a week. Sorry.
Yes, it's still here...... at least it was this afternoon.
I've also posted Sacred Ibis, Harris Hawk, Ringed Teal and once, a parrot, on this forum too though
A Bald Ibis (the previously wandering bord from Cheshire?) has been present for about two weeks on fields at Ken Ward Sports Centre in Hattersley, Hyde, off West Hattersley Road. Still present at 4:10pm today
Roger
To some perhaps...
Hoooray ! Mystery solved.
Roger.
In the immortal words of John McEnroe, 'you cannot be serious'...
http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/wildlife/f/13609/t/82926.aspx
The bird is an escapee from Blackbrook Zoological Park.
I gave my permission to The Reporter Group to publish my pictures..... then they didn't!
Gutted!
After a photoshoot in Los Angeles, and jetting to London for more newspaper interviews!
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1583205_almost-extinct-northern-bald-ibis-has-birdwatchers-in-a-twitch-in-tameside
Just had an update from the Leisure Centre staff, the Ibis flew back in at 1:30pm Thursday 12th July
After a photoshoot in Los Angeles, and jetting to London for more newspaper interviews!
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1583205_almost-extinct-northern-bald-ibis-has-birdwatchers-in-a-twitch-in-tameside
By the way James, were you 'the man from Salford University'?
He's on my neighbours roof, preening himself.
A couple more images on Flickr, if anyone's interested.
-- Edited by James Kelday on Thursday 12th of July 2012 03:48:51 PM
"Theo" the Bald Ibis has made it into the national press
Lets see where it turns up next.
Roger.
I saw it flying away to the west (towards Manchester) yesterday evening.
Flying quite high and straight, as if it knew where it was going!
http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/106003791/0
I think you're right there..... the local press emailed me asking if they could use my Flickr photographs for a newspaper article.
Perhaps we should have looked more closely at our influx of Ringed Teal a couple of years back, which bore no leg irons too
The wider picture of Northern Bald Ibis global conservation awareness has defo been promoted a little more by "Theo" & from my experiences yesterday this bird is certainly becoming a local celebrity
Being unringed has less bearing on it's escapee likelihood than you might think I'm afraid. I've gone into very (very) detailed research about a couple of similar species which if it proved one thing, is that we have less idea what is being kept in captivity in the UK than you might think and similarly, less than you might think are ever ringed.
Occurrences of Slender-billed Curlew and Blue-cheeked Bee-eater have no real relevance in proving any potential vagrancy, which must surely be so remote, especially against the escape factor, that its no surprise that the hoards of British elite twitchers are not descending on Hattersley.
Note that one at Sandbach Flashes back in September 2011 was 'unringed and fully winged' too
a) a captive bird from a UK or European zoo/collection that has not been ringed & has escaped
b) a re-introduction scheme bird that has not been ringed (this seems very unlikely), or possibly an un-ringed offspring of re-introduction scheme birds
c) a wild bird from the Moroccan population (all the photos I have seen of these are of un-ringed birds)
d) a bird that has been ringed & the ring/s have come off
The safe money is on a zoo/collection escapee, but if it is un-ringed perhaps that increases the chances of genuine vagrancy a little (a la Slender-billed Curlew, White-crowned Black Wheatear, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater)
This from my Wildlife Law lecturer, Dr Rees
It is normal practice for zoos to ring most birds for identification purposes. This is essential for the maintenance of veterinary and breeding records. It is not a legal requirement that animals should be marked but there is a requirement to keep records and obviously this is not possible if individuals cannot be distinguished from each other. Zoos sometimes double ring one ring has a number and the other indicates the sex (depending on which leg is ringed)
Cheers Chris.
Unfortunately I am unable to post a link. If you want to search for it on Flickr, my screen name is James Kelday.
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=234730
Have made a few enquiries, shall update here if I hear anything interesting
Your head says its an escapee, but your heart wants it to be for real., yet you know you have to go & see it, just to satisfy your curiousity.
Was taking to a friend recently who said that he had lost interest in birding in this country, yet he's making plans to visit one of the less salubrious areas of Tameside over the weekend...just in case !
- The IUCN (The International Union for the Conservation of Nature) list NBI as Critically Endangered
http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/106003791/0
- CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) list NBI as Appendix I (species threatened with extinction & trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances)
PS Just for the record, I haven't got an unhealthy obsession or a job as a wildlife detective, I have to learn all this type of stuff for my University degree course
Thanks for the info/links, interesting to hear that some of the Austrian re-introduction birds migrated north as far as Holland
However, all the footage & images of re-introduction scheme birds I've seen seem to show birds generally with 3-4 rings on
It's in 4 parts in the "Uploaded videos" section, and also listed in the "Worldwide Conservation Issues" section.
Link is here:-
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheBaldIbis
Directions: From M67 take j4 onto A560 south, then right onto Underwood Road, then left onto West Hattersley Road, & view the fields & rooftops adjacent to the Leisure Centre
Quality meeting Roger Baker & John Rayner, big thanks to the Leisure Centre staff for hospitality
The bird had taken flight about 11.00 circling infront of Werneth Low en-route to Damascus
Was just beginning to think that the bird had flown when it popped its head up out of a ditch far side of the playing field (in front of a large greenhouse frame).
Harassed by a Crow and several Magpies it took off and circled a couple of times before dropping down into some rough land behind the houses.
Roger.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/garryshepperd/7504109250/
-- Edited by Garry442 on Thursday 5th of July 2012 09:59:03 AM
As soon as the locals saw us arrive they were keen to tell us the bird has been present for around two weeks.
I believe there will be a piece about it in the Tameside Advertiser next week.
Just shows what can be missed on an unchecked playing field in Hattersley
Rudyard Reservoir (Staffs) 26th May 2012
Sandbach Flashes (Cheshire) 11th September 2011
Blackpool (Lancashire) 2001/2002
All listed as escapes