I was lucky enough to see my Sacred Ibis in Norfolk, where everything is wild and tickable

Ian McKerchar wrote:

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I have been asked the potential status of this bird many times recently and whether it stinks of garlic (or indeed mozzarella?) or not, it would be uncountable I'm afraid. Well, unless you happen to have Black Swan, Bar-headed Goose etc etc on your list!

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Ian is right - no chance of this being accepted onto the British list by the BOU until a viable colony has been established for a good number of years. But what of the future?

There are surprising numbers of Sacred Ibises on the continent. They breed in Spain, France, Italy, Canary Islands and other free-flying colonies have occurred in Belgium and Germany. I was amazed to read that the largest roost in France contained over 1000 birds. There, they have a negative impact on sensitive species such as terns and, although I don't believe there is an active culling project at the moment, given what has happened to Ruddy Duck I wouldn't hold out much hope for a viable colony being allowed to established itself in Britain.

Cheers, John

I was there this afternoon, no Ibis.

With the help of the same friendly birder, I saw a pair of Yellow Wagtails at the farm nearby.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 29th of April 2011 08:35:38 PM

Only went down on an opportune visit to the tip !! Grabbed my bins and wandered down the lane to see if there were any Yellow Wags showing, there weren't, not even a Pied Wag !!!

Did have Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Mistle Thrush, Buzzard, Kestrel, Magpie, Canada Goose, Coot (with young), Moorhen, Little Grebe, Mallard, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Lapwing, 3 LR Plover, BH Gull.

When the Ibis landed the Lapwing and Gulls were up and mobbing, the duck moved away sharpish. Its a big bird and stands out a mile !! Might be mistaken but could have swore there was a faint smell of garlic as it flew in !!

27/04/2011 7.30pm - Whilst walking dog, Little Ringed Plover landed on front mud of middle pool then took off West about 10 mins later.

16 Apr early saturday morning
Gadwall 5
Tufted 4
Teal 8
Shoveller 1
Little Grebe 6
Canada Goose
Grey Lag Goose 1
Lapwing 4
Oystercatcher 1 (over MUFC training ground)
Whitethroat 2
Blackcap 2
Grasshopper Warbler 1
Sedge Warbler 1

28/03/11 Quick cycle past to and from work: 8.10am (in fog!!) 4 singing Chiffchaffs between back of ETW upto Recycling Centre 5.45pm (sunny!) 3 Sand Martin over pools 2 Oystercatcher pair Lapwing 2 Teal 2 Shoveler 2 Gadwall 3 singing Chiffchaffs

22/03/11

1 Chiffchaff singing by the Refuse Centre

8.10am
2 Oystercatchers
4 Canada Geese
4 Gadwall
5 Shoveler
5 Tufted Duck
1 Little Grebe
Lots of noisy BH Gulls

This morning 0930
Shoveler = 12
Gadwall = 13
Teal = 12
Oystercather = 2
Lapwing = 1
Heron = 1
Mallard = 12
Coot = 2
Moorhen = 3
Canada Goose = 6

25/02/2011 -

2 Pintails - both drakes still present and correct
5 Shovelers
10 Gadwalls
4 Canada Geese
1 Oystercatcher
18 Magpies
4 Fieldfares
2 Linnets

13/02/11

A quick look at the main pool around 1030

drake Shoveler
pair of Gadwall
c10 Redwing

10/02/2011 - Better numbers of ducks this morning:

c90 Teal (many on a pond further back in the works with very limited visibility)
9 Shovelers
6 Gadwalls
c20 Mallards
6 Coots
2 Moorhens
c40 Redwings
1 Brambling (flew over towards the moss)

14/01/2011 - 2 Wigeon this morning, otherwise much the same as previously.

11/01/2011 - 1.00-2.30pm: The ice has finally defrosted after a solid month and with the return of water was the return of plenty of wildfowl. Stuff seen:

1 Wigeon
8 Gadwalls
7 Shovelers
c40 Teals
4 Grey Herons
1 Buzzard
1 Willow Tit (tricky to catch up with on the moss this winter)
4 Bullfinches
6 Reed Buntings

11am this morning

only;
9 Teal
48 Collared Dove
10 Pied Wagtail
3 Moorhen
2 Mipit

(alot of dog walkers, horse riders, cyclists this morning)

Tuesday, September 28th pm.

Grey Wagtail 1
Shoveler 2
Teal 15+
Moorhen 20+
Lapwing 12
Grey Heron 1
Green Sandpiper 1 on second pool.
Skylark 3 over.

22/09/2010 - 11am:

2 Green Sandpipers (on back pool, viewing difficult)
12 Teals
8 Moorhens
1 Grey Heron
2 Grey Wagtails

3 Black-tailed Godwit, Green Sandpiper and Kingfisher this morning.

Info from Tony O'Mahony

At least 40 Wigeon, 5 Teal and a heron this afternoon.

1 Yellow Wag in Donkey paddock this morning

1 Garganey, 1 Shoveler, 3 Teal, 1 juv Little Grebe, 1 Sand Martin this afternoon

Hope you've kept the kitchen sink Sid!

Late afternoon - Garganey still present, 1 Teal, 20 Lapwing, 1 Snipe, usual Coot, Moorhen,Mallard. Little Grebe have bred. 50 + Goldfinch close by and Kestrel.