A glossy ibis takes a rest at Heihe Wetland National Nature Reserve in Zhangye, Northwest China's Gansu province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A glossy ibis, a second-class protected species, was recently spotted by an administer at Heihe Wetland National Nature Reserve in Zhangye, Northwest China's Gansu province.

The special guest was finding food by the river, creating lovely scenes of graceful beauty.

With glittering deep maroon feathers and long bent bills, this kind of bird mainly inhabits very shallow water and nests in freshwater or brackish wetlands.

The China Red Data Book of Endangered Animals had earlier announced the extinction of the glossy ibis; fortunately, later in 2009, some were spotted successively in Kunming, Xichang and Xilingol.