Rare Bird Report 18-B-08

GLOSSY IBIS Mud Lake Wildlife Management Area, ID 20 June 2008

On 20 June 2008, Barbara Carlson and I were birding at Mud Lake Wildlife Management Area. We first birded the north shore of the lake, then Flooded fields just to the east of the lake, where several hundred Cooperative White-faced Ibis provided for the opportunity to search for Glossy Ibis, a species which has recently been found in almost all the Western states in very small numbers (perhaps 1 per 500-1000 White-faceds...). No luck there. But our next stop was along the dike at The southwest side of Mud Lake, where there was some shallow water, with Lots of Wilson's Phalaropes, a few early-migrant Marbled Godwits, but Just a handful of scattered ibis. But I was pleasantly shocked to Realize that one of the closest ibis in front of us (and in good light) Was a nice, bright, adult Glossy! I showed the bird to Barbara, and we Both studied it in our scopes for about another full minute or so before It took off on its own and flew well to the east.

Description: An adult, alternate-plumaged bird, with lots of chestnut To body plumage. A typical Plegadis ibis in size, shape, and bill--and The bird was close to a few White-faceds so comparison could easily be Made. What first struck me when bird presented itself in good profile And in good light was the classic Glossy Ibis face pattern of single, Thin but very distinct cobalt-pale-blue lines running from both the Lower base of the bill up to immediately below the eye and from just Above the top base of the bill to immediately above the eye. These lines Did NOT join around the rear of the eye. The eye itself was dark, NOT Red--and the lighting was good and it was easy to see the red in the Eyes of the nearby White-faceds. The Loral/facial skin in front of the Eye was grayish--close to the same color as the base of the bill, so no Contrast. It showed NO tinges of reddish or pinkish to the Loral/facial Skin (or facial stripes) as shown by White-faceds. Lastly, the legs Looked primarily grayish, which no red to the upper leg or 'knee', Something shown by almost all adult White-faceds (and also by some Glossies to a small degree). All these characters clearly eliminate White-faced. There was also nothing about the bird to suggest a hybrid. It looked just typical of a pure-blood Glossy Ibis.

Having lived and birded in the East for several decades of my life, I Have seen and studied thousands and thousands of Glossy Ibis. Having Lived and travled extensively throughout the West for many, many years, I have also seen many, many tens of thousands of White-faceds. Over the Years I have searched through many, many flocks of each species in Spring and summer looking for the "other" species, whether I am in the West or East (and with success on a fair number of [perhaps 10-12] Occasions in both regions).

--Paul Lehman, 11192 Portobelo Drive, San Diego, CA 92124