'Rare' glossy ibis spotted in Renfrewshire for first time ever

The glossy ibis is a rare visitor to the UK, normally found in warmer climates in continents like Asia and Africa, but RSPB Scotland say an “influx” in visits from the species have been recorded in 2025.

A glossy ibis was spotted on Saturday at RSPB Lochwinnoch nature reserve, marking its first ever visit to the Renfrewshire area.

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The birds have previously been found in other nature reserves, including seven at the RSPB’s Baron’s Haugh nature reserve in Motherwell on October 9 and another recorded visitor at the Loch Gruinart reserve on Islay.

Paul Walton, head of habitats and species for RSPB Scotland, said: “Whilst declines in bird populations are all too familiar, every so often a bird species will undergo a rapid population increase and range expansion.

“The collared dove was one species which was rare in Scotland in the early 20th century but is now a common breeder.

“The glossy ibis looks potentially to be another.”

It’s thought that climate change may be behind the influx of the ibis’s visits to Scotland, with winters becoming milder as a result, though the official cause is yet to be confirmed.

“Until recently a rare occurrence in the UK, numbers have been growing and this autumn, there have been hundreds,” Walton continued.

“The birds now being seen in Scotland are in the vanguard of the expansion.

“The species has undergone increases in southern and western Europe in recent years.

“The causes of this expansion are not yet clear – and time will tell if the species becomes more established in Scotland.

“But the records this autumn are remarkable and a new sight to enjoy on RSPB nature reserves and beyond.”

The glossy ibis is named after its iridescent feathers, which contain shimmers of green and purple shades.

(Image: David Marland/RSPB Scotland/PA Wire)

Dan Snowdon, warden at RSPB Lochwinnoch, said: “It’s always exciting when a rare bird appears in the area, and we were really hoping to see one of the glossy ibises during the recent influx.

“Lots of people were on the lookout, but Andrew James was the lucky birdwatcher who first spotted one over the Barr Loch on October 18.

“This was the first ever record for Renfrewshire, which is our second such first of the year after a pair of Avocets visited our wetland scrape in the spring.

“It will be interesting to see whether glossy ibis becomes a much more regular visitor after its recent breeding success in England, like some of the heron species in recent years.

“We now have a great white egret wintering for the second year in a row, which would have been unthinkable not too long ago.”