Rare Glossy Ibis bird spotted at Scottish nature reserve for first time amid increase in sightings

A rare bird has been spotted at a Scottish nature reserve for the first time amid an increase in sightings across the country.

The Glossy Ibis was spotted at RSPB Lochwinnoch nature reserve for the first time ever on Saturday.

It comes after seven Glossy Ibis were recorded at RSPB Scotland’s Baron’s Haugh nature reserve in Motherwell, while another bird was spotted later in the month at RSPB Loch Gruinart nature reserve in Islay on October 9.

The migratory bird is usually a rare visitor to the UK and is more commonly seen in the hotter climates of Africa, Asia, Australia, South America and the warmer regions of continental Europe.

The Glossy Ibis was spotted at RSPB Lochwinnoch nature reserve for the first time ever on Saturday. RSPB

However, in recent years, the species has increasingly been spotted in the UK.

RSPB said there has been an influx in sightings of the species in the UK, with “never-before-seen” numbers across Scotland.

Dan Snowdon, warden at RSPB Lochwinnoch, spoke on the “exciting” appearance, saying lots of people were on the lookout due to the influx of sightings.

“Andrew James was the lucky birdwatcher who first spotted one over the Barr Loch on October 18. This was the first ever record for Renfrewshire, which is our second such first of the year after a pair of Avocets visited our wetland scrape in the spring,” he explained.

“It will be interesting to see whether Glossy Ibis becomes a much more regular visitor after its recent breeding success in England, like some of the heron species in recent years,” he added.

“We now have a Great White Egret wintering for the second year in a row, which would have been unthinkable not too long ago”.

The Glossy Ibis is named after its iridescent or “glossy” feathers, which shimmer in shades of green and purple.

The birds have long, curved beaks and are slightly larger than a Curlew.

They first bred successfully in the UK in Cambridgeshire in 2022, but have never been known to make a nesting attempt in Scotland.

RSPB said causes for the increase in sightings are not clear, but may be due to climate change bringing milder winters.

Paul Walton, head of Habitats and Species for RSPB Scotland, said: “Whilst declines in bird populations are all too familiar, every so often a bird species will undergo a rapid population increase and range expansion.

“The Collared Dove was one species which was rare in Scotland in the early 20th century but is now a common breeder.

“The Glossy Ibis looks potentially to be another.”

He added: “Until recently, a rare occurrence in the UK, numbers have been growing and, this autumn, there have been hundreds.

“The birds now being seen in Scotland are in the vanguard of the expansion.

“The species has undergone increases in southern and western Europe in recent years.

“The causes of this expansion are not yet clear, and time will tell if the species becomes more established in Scotland.

“But the records this autumn are remarkable and a new sight to enjoy on RSPB nature reserves and beyond.”