Overview
- A glossy ibis recorded at RSPB Lochwinnoch on October 18 marked the first-ever sighting for Renfrewshire.
- Seven birds were logged at RSPB Baron’s Haugh in Motherwell on October 9, with another seen later at RSPB Loch Gruinart on Islay.
- RSPB’s Paul Walton says hundreds have been seen across the UK this autumn, describing Scottish birds as the vanguard of a range expansion.
- Warden Dan Snowdon credited birdwatcher Andrew James with spotting the Renfrewshire bird over Barr Loch.
- The species bred in England in 2022, no nesting attempts are known in Scotland, and experts say milder winters may be a factor though the cause remains unclear.