Unexpected Mediterranean visitors at Marshside

[WD-40]

News from the RSPB site

The arrival of a duo of rare wild birds that are very far from home has brought an unexpected taste of the Mediterranean to the RSPB Marshside nature reserve near Southport this summer.

Since June a glossy ibis, an extremely rare visitor from Southern Europe, has taken up residence at the RSPB Marshside reserve near Southport. A large dark bird, with a distinctive down curved beak, the arrival of the ibis has drawn birdwatchers to Southport from across the country.

Ibises were sacred to the Ancient Egyptians, and the Marshside bird has proved a popular attraction, obligingly putting in a daily appearance in front of the reserve's Sandgrounders Hide

To the delight and amazement of RSPB wardens and visitors, another rare southern visitor, a great white egret, has also graced the reserve. This large, long-legged, snow-white bird was first spotted on an inaccessible part of the Ribble estuary, but then moved to the RSPB Marshside reserve, where hundreds of visitors have enjoyed watching it.

RSPB Marshside warden, Graham Clarkson said: 'The glossy ibis has been attracting lots of visitors to Marshside throughout the summer, but the unprecedented arrival of the great white egret saw the hides on the reserve full every day, as visitors tried to spot it amongst the flock of it's smaller cousins, the little egrets.'

The reserve could soon be nicknamed 'Ribble-sur-la-Mer' as 27 pairs of elegant, black and white avocets have nested at Marshside this summer, and a flock of up to 14 little egrets (a species which has made an incredible northward invasion from southern Europe into North West England in recent years) is also resident at Marshside.

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[Chocky]

Thanks for that info Robert