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Glossy Ibis - Pelegadis falcinellus

There was a flurry of activity yesterday afternoon on various “Whats App” birding groups - two Glossy Ibis had been briefly seen and photographed on the scrape (Ponds 16/17) Mai Po Nature Reserve. 

There are only two previous Hong Kong records - single birds (also at Mai Po) in May 1994 and April 1978.

Immature Glossy Ibis are described as “wanderers” in the bird books, and these two seemed to have wandered on.

However, this afternoon - 21st March 2019 - the very same person who had seen them at Mai Po, found them again, this time in Long Valley, where they lingered through the afternoon and were the subject of many mobile phone messages.

Glossy Ibis - Pelegadis falcinellus

Long Valley is ten minutes from where I live, but first I had to collect Jemi, who was returning from downtown on the 978 bus. I scrambled into the car with bins and camera, and arrived at Choi Po Court just in time to pick her up.  Someone had kindly “dropped a pin” on the phone message group thread and the birds and attendant admirers were easy to find.

Long Valley's vegetable fields seemed to suit the rare visitors well, and they were actively foraging around the bases of the vegetation.

Glossy Ibis - Pelegadis falcinellus

Both individuals are in non-breeding plumage, having light-streaked heads and necks, and actually, as can be seen here, look very similar.

Glossy Ibis - Pelegadis falcinellus

Glossy Ibis - Pelegadis falcinellus

Here's hoping they hand around a bit longer than the previous ones, which were one or two-day "wonders".

Today’s warm sunshine also served as a reminder that the main spring migration is coming....

Postscript (Sunday, 31st March)

These birds disappeared from Long Valley after Friday 22nd March, so weekend-only "twitchers" felt they had missed out.

However, there followed rumours of Glossy Ibis out at Nam Sang Wai from Wednesday 27th March.  It was true.

The Ibis pair have been present in the NSW area for the past four days, so previously frustrated twitchers have enjoyed a second chance to add Glossy Ibis to their HK lists.

Glossy Ibis - Pelegadis falcinellus

Glossy Ibis - Pelegadis falcinellus

Glossy Ibis - Pelegadis falcinellus

These photos were taken at sunset on 28th March