It seemed inevitable that they would fly.
I’m not sure who gave the signal, but the whole group got it.
Click on either image for larger view.
White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Snowy Egret
Three, Two, One, Go!
Tag Archives: White Ibis
Juvenile White Ibis
White Ibis are brown when they are young, and gradually become mottled, then change to full white.
Peek-a-boo and see my bright blue eye!
This gnarly tree that hang over a pond are attractive perches for the Ibis, some taking up a position out in the open.
A group of six or eight were perched through out this tree, blending in with the yellowish leaves.
White Ibis Lunch
This Ibis picked up his lunch and took off after the other Ibis in his flock started closing in to see what he had.
Ibis Above
It can be disconcerting when a flock of wading birds lands in a tree over your head. Thoughts of getting pooped on come to mind, and as much as I’d hate to be the recipient of that I’d hate it to land on my camera even more.
This flock of six or eight White Ibis didn’t seem to be concerned about the few photographers standing below and provided some nice poses.
After awhile they took off one by one, and because they were so close to the trees there was no option for in flight photographs.
These were taken in the middle of February and just a few buds were starting to show on the trees.
Rookery Close-ups
As the rookery tree filled up for the night the birds had to be content with less space or have discussions about personal space.
These White Ibis had it figured out and evenly spaced themselves before tucking up a leg and in their beaks.
A lone White Ibis had his spot before the sun went down but wasn’t quite ready to close his eye.
Say Ahhh
The sun shining in his open mouth gave a weird look at this White Ibis’ throat. There really isn’t much to any of the wading birds bodies.
Bathing Hole
When I first arrived at the end of the boardwalk at St. Augustine Alligator Farm a Great Egret had this little corner to himself. He was just sitting there, not actively bathing, but dunking a little. No Alligators were in the immediate vicinity, that I could see.
Even though he wasn’t doing anything to attract attention he soon had company, as first a Roseate Spoonbill sauntered over, a Snowy Egret dropped in, and then a White Ibis joined the group. The White Ibis, with a splash of mud on his wings, was most in need of a rinse.
The dirt look to the Spoonbill’s feathers is the transition to the darker pink/red that happens as they mature.
1/29/2018, St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine, Florida.
Spoonbill Gathering
I saw a lot of Roseate Spoonbills the first three days of my Florida trip in January but at a distance, behind low scrub and/or in low light. Finally on the third afternoon we came upon a flock of mixed wading birds in a marsh that was close enough to the road for clear photographs.
The flock was working from our right to the left, both wading and taking short flying hops.
The Ibis and Spoonbills seem quite content to hang out together.
This Roseate Spoonbill trio really show off the darker pink band on their wings, a contrast with the White Ibis that has just a hint of black on his wing tips.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, 1/28/2018
