Glossy Ibis
The glossy ibis was once a rare vagrant to the UK but recently it is appearing more and more. Here in the Somerset Levels we are particularly blessed.
One
I had just cycled through water a foot deep on Westhay Moor Drove. When with very wet feet, I stumbled across a glossy ibis in a field next to the road. We both had wet feet.
The light was directly behind, but this did add some sparkle.
Two
Soon there was two. I’m not sure how they do this, but they can pluck a worm out of the ground with the tip of their beak then effortlessly throw it into the back of their months.
Three
Suddenly there was three. All heads down, beaks in the water.
The cattle were well feed but kept to the one dry corner of the field.
The good news is that they found a patch of grass, and were quickly followed by a flock of cattle egrets.
And finally…
I was once lucky enough to watch a pair of glossy ibis infront of the amazing backdrop of thousands of starlings.
Update
I returned a few days later. The flood water had drained away but the ibis we still pottering about.