Have you seen the star visitor on our saltmarsh?
A Glossy Ibis, usually found in Southern Europe, has been delighting birdwatchers at Cleethorpes Local Nature Reserve for the past month. This juvenile bird is part of a record influx this autumn, with over 600 ibises recorded across Britain and Ireland in September.
Once a rare migrant, the Glossy Ibis is now establishing itself as a breeding species in the UK. It attempted to breed at Gibraltar Point, south of Skegness, in 2014 without success and later successfully bred at a site in Cambridgeshire in 2022. While the individual visiting Cleethorpes may not stay until spring, its presence suggests sightings may become more common in years to come.
Slightly larger than a Curlew, the Ibis uses its long, curved bill to probe for invertebrates in wetlands. This bird has been favouring the saltmarsh lagoon. Juveniles are dark brown but adults, in good light, shimmer with bronze, purple and green – hence the name “Glossy”.
The first record of a Glossy Ibis in North East Lincolnshire was in June this year when an adult bird visited Cress Marsh near Stallingborough. The Cleethorpes bird has drawn visitors from near and far, proving that our coastline is a fantastic winter birdwatching destination.
Josh Forrester, Coastal Ranger with the Cleethorpes DUNE Project (funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund), said:
“It’s always a treat to see a rarity like the Glossy Ibis locally. It has given many people fantastic views and photo opportunities. With the recent cold snap, I wonder if it will stick around?
“Whilst out surveying on our coast, a group of 12 birdwatchers from Berkshire – touring the Lincolnshire coast – stopped by to see the Ibis. This shows that our area is a top destination for winter birdwatching, especially with the tens of thousands of wetland birds that can be seen on the Humber Estuary!
“As always, our coast belongs to wildlife too – please enjoy responsibly and avoid causing disturbance to feeding or roosting birds.”
Enjoy our coastline responsibly:
Cleethorpes Local Nature Reserve is part of an internationally important and legally protected wetland – the Humber Estuary European Marine Site. You can help to protect its wildlife by:
- Staying on footpaths
- Keeping dogs under control
- Moving away if birds seem disturbed
- Avoiding the salt marsh and sand banks – especially where there are large congregations of birds
Thank you to local birder and photographer Mike Pickwell for the stunning photos.
Learn More:
To find out more about the Cleethorpes DUNE Project and upcoming events, visit our new webpage: Cleethorpes DUNE project | NELC
If you would like to sign up to our monthly newsletter for updates on the DUNE Project as well as local wildlife sightings, please follow this link: Email notifications – NELC | QuestionPro Survey
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