The Sacred Ibis is mainly an African bird which inhabits from south Sahara to South Africa. There is also a small population in Iraq, near the mouth of river Euphrates. Some centuries ago it inhabited Egypt, where it was worshipped by the ancient Pharaohs as a symbol of Thoth, God of Knowledge, and its presence was considered an omen of good luck.

Last Sunday, with a group of about 70 professional and amateur ornithologists, guided by members of the local group SEO-Vanellus (from the Spanish Ornithological Society), we made a trip to the Southeast Madrid Regional Park. Hardly 100 metres away from the Caserío of Perales del Río (Getafe), very close to the motorway M-50, we were flabbergasted. Half a dozen White Storks were flying in circles, slowly ascending with the help of a thermal current and, among them, a Sacred Ibis!

Wild colonies have been formed in some continental European countries due to escapes from zoos; most of them are in the Loire Valley (France). However, their presence in Spain is extremely rare, and they had never been seen in Madrid since 2011. Where could the Madrilenian Sacred Ibis come from?