Glossy ibis in Derbyshire

The Avenue Washlands Nature Reserve. Credit Derbyshire Wildlife Trust

November 2011. A very rare visitor to British shores has been seen at a nature reserve that only five years ago was part of the most contaminated site in Europe.

The glossy ibis, which gets its name from the iridescent sheen on its wings, was recorded by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust volunteers Alan Watts and Ron Turner at The Avenue Washlands Nature Reserve near Chesterfield. The bird has only been recorded around a hundred times in the country since 1954 and only three times in Derbyshire. The reserve, owned by the Land Trust and managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, is on part of the former Avenue Coking Works.

Richard Spowage, the Reserves Manager commented: "It is extremely rare for this bird to turn up in Derbyshire as it's usually found in southern Europe. The Washlands reserve has areas of reedbed and marsh which provide good feeding habitat for the glossy ibis."

Growing bird list
The glossy Ibis is the latest rare visitor to the reserve, which now has recorded an amazing 118 species since recording started in 2007. Included in this impressive list are bittern, little egret, dipper and barn owl.

Most contaminated site in Europe
Euan Hall, chief executive of the Land Trust, comments, "Amazingly only six years ago this reserve was part of what was reckoned to be the most contaminated site in Europe. Thanks to a restoration programme funded by the Homes and Communities Agency's National Coalfield Programme it is now a haven for wildlife as well as a place where people can experience the great outdoors and gain a multitude of benefits while doing so. A lot of credit has to go to the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust who have mobilised people to get involved in enhancing the wildlife value of this special space."