Reminding me of musical notes on a staff these White Ibis were writing a song in a dead tree.
However, they weren’t all carrying the same tune, and seemed to covet each others’ spots.
Being “king of the hill” is a popular bird theme.
Pushing right to the limit, this fellow held a long note.
I circled around to get better light and most of the Ibis had moved on to another song.
I occasionally take a walk to this small pond after checking out the action on the big pond. The pond has a full tree canopy so the light is usually poor for photographs, but late in the day some dappled sun works through. And some days the walk rewards me with a bird.
This trip it was an adult White Ibis, slowing working his way back and forth, in and out of the patches of sunlight.
Then something startled him and he retreated to a spot above the water at the back of the pond, where he carefully checked the sky.
This dirty looking Ibis is actually a not-quite adult. Juvenile White Ibis are brown and gradually turn white.
This one was foraging along the edge of a pond, sticking to the mostly shaded edge, quickly swallowing any food.
He stepped into the sun for a moment and you can see the mottled brown on his wings.
White Ibis usually travel in groups but this one was by himself searching the edges of a small pond. There is a full tree canopy over the pond so not much direct light gets to the water, and the reflected light appears in lots of colors.
Back and forth he went with an occasional sweep of the water with his beak, hunting for food.
Reflections of some Cyprus Knees and a few dapples of sunlight changed the look of the water as the Ibis moved along.
The sun was rising on a juvenile Glossy Ibis, Wood Stork and Little Blue Heron standing in a shallow pond.
The Ibis got the signal to go!
I love these reflections, especially the upside down Ibis.
Sometimes the action is above you.
I walked under this White Ibis without seeing him. He started to move and that caught my eye.
Three
Two
One
Liftoff!
A White Ibis demonstrating his stretch method.
First, beak to ground level…
Slowly lift a leg…
Throw in a squawk …
Push that leg…
To the full extension, and hold.
Happy New Year!
2018 has been a wonderful year of observing and photographing the wonders of nature, mostly birds in the low country of South Carolina. Thank you for following along. I appreciate all of your comments and observations.
I end the year with a Snowy Egret fishing in a rice field canal, taken on one of the few sunny days we’ve had lately.
A White Ibis dropped in amazing close to the Egret considering all the unoccupied space nearby.
Nonplussed, they both moved on.
Best wishes for a peaceful and healthy 2019!
Click on any photo for larger view.
The White Ibis was wading in the canal just off the dike at the rice field impoundment. I waited patiently for him to get far enough from the bank to get a clear shot.
Then an intruder! Several Ring-billed Gulls were on the opposite bank in the shallow water. I didn’t expect any to be interested in the deeper water, not thinking they would float, not wade.
The Gull continued paddling until he was behind the White Ibis and lifted his head, turning a photobombed shot into a nice bird combo image.
If they follow last year’s pattern this tree will soon be occupied by nesting Great Blue Heron and Great Egret couples. Until then White Ibis have taken over the tree for sunning.
Doing the one-legged doze the Ibis stood right here for a couple of hours at least.
There is not a bit of material left from last year’s nests. Any Great Blues or Great Egrets that stake this out to start a family will be starting nest building from zero.
Taken as fall is coming to an end, 12/18/2018.
