Monday February 21
Apart from visiting the Ted Ellis Fen, Surlingham, when we first arrived in Norfolk, we have never birded the Rockland area. The first day of sunshine after a week of storms, plus the news of a Glossy Ibis at Rockland, was too good to deny. The bird has been here for several days. Would it stay? Birdguides reported its presence at lunchtime.The washing mashine was unloaded, the clothes hung to dry, and off we went.
After a 45 minutes drive, we arrived at the dropped pin field, parked in a muddy gateway, and waited. The gate entrance straddled a wide dyke, a cattle field on both sids in front of us, several cows, loafing Gulls, Mute Swans and Pheasants. Birds kept appearing from the hidden dykes and large patches of sedge.
A few birders turned up with tales of where it had been seen earlier. Typical. A friendly birder drew up behind us, walked over to say that he would move when we wanted and introduced himself as David. I wish I'd asked his surname. He is a Blog reader, having got the link from James Emerson's Blog. David then walked over to the gate , looking to the right-hand field, soon beckoning to say that he'd found it. Thank you David. The Glossy Ibis was feeding no more than 50 metres away, appearing from behind a giant hay bale feeder. On inspection, I decided that getting out into thick wet mud was too dodgy for dreadful knees.
All these phoros were taken by Pam, using my camera and long lens. No mean feat considering her arthritic hands and fingers and the weight of the gear.
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