I took the day off today, did a bit of birdwatching, very relaxing. Then, this evening I hear there has been a glossy ibis on the reserve this afternoon, wandering around the shore of Ibsley Water. It just so happens this is a species I have never seen in Britain, although some would say this has been laziness on my part, but still it remains the case. I am obviously not a twitcher, if I was I would have seen an ibis by now, but I do like to see a new species from time to time and to miss one in such circumstances, well you can imagine.
Mind you it is a great record for the reserve and especially valuable as we have been short of a few species this year and we need to add a some unexpected extras if we are to win our category in the BTO Birds and Business Challenge. I just wish that they were ones I had seen before if they are going to turn up on days when I am not on site!