there hadn't been a glossy ibis since the one and only record in 1898. today i saw 11. got to brading marsh at dawn hoping to catch the 7 that were seen last night before they (inevitably!) left the island. first 1 then 6 flew in from their roost over bembridge ponds way. the single dropped down to the pool on the west side of the river where the flock had been seen last night. the 6 circled then headed purposefully north along the coast towards seaview. we crossed the river and had good views of the single on the deck but that didn't stay long and soon flew low back towards bembridge ponds. walking back to the green bridge i then picked up a new bird circling over the valley out from the sewage works. it flew straight towards us but veered to the side and dropped down into the flash between us and bexley point. within minutes it was in the air again - with 3 others! the 4 continued out over the harbour and were lost to view over the duver, heading north. the regular wintering female marsh harrier has also returned today.