Rare Bird Report #: 22-B-07

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES:

Glossy Ibis

HOW MANY:

1

REPORTER:

Cliff Weisse
4125 Beaver Springs Rd.
Island Park, ID 83429
208-558-7789

REPORTER EMAIL:

cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com

OTHER OBSERVERS:

DATE REPORT PREPARED:

5/10/2007

DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED:

5/10/2007

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION:

West End of Island Park Reservoir, near Island Park, Fremont County. First seen along Sheridan Creek, which was flooding into sagebrush, and then along the lake shore between Sheridan creek and Icehouse Creek.

HABITAT:

Flooded Sagebrush and lakeshore with flooded grass along shoreline.

CONDITIONS:

Total observation time about 30 minutes spread out over almost two hours. Distance between 200 yards and about 75 yards. Binocs used are Nikon Premial LX 10 x 42, scoep is Swarovski 80MM HD w/20-60 eye piece. Observation took place with eye piece set as low as 30X and as high as 60x. Sun was high in the sky at 12:45 - 2:30 pm and varied from behind birds, to oblique, to behind observer. Wind was blowing hard enough to blow my hat off twice which rarely happens,probably sustained 25 mph with stronger gusts. I had to get very close to see well enough to confimr the ID because of the wind.

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?:

No, not at all

DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?:

No, not at all

WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?:



DESCRIPTION:

Adult plumaged Plegadis Ibis with rich rufous upperparts and underparts and glossy green wing cobverts and flight feathers. Long, stout, decurved bill was grayish. Legs were not seen. Iris was dark brown, seen in good light. White-faced Ibis were present and for comparison and the red iris color was easily seen in the same light with head held in the same position as the Glossy, on which the iris always appeared dark. Facial skin blackish with no hint of reddish tones anywhere on the face. Border of facial skin with narrow light blue edge forming lines above and below facial skin. Blue line on lower edge of facial skin wider near the central point between eye and bill. Blue lines did not extend around eye and did not bleed into feathers surrounding face or eye.

BEHAVIOR:

Foraging in flooded Sagebrush, then flooded grass along lake shore. The bird preened twice during observation and bathed once in the lake. No vocalizations of interactions with other birds were observed.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU?

I am familiar with Glossy Ibis and was specifically looking for one when I first saw this individual. The dark head with no white or reddish tones immediately caught my attention. I advanced closer and had a pretty good look at the facial pattern and could see the blue color of the pale lines on the facial skin. The birds then flushed and flew about 1/2 mile to the lake where I found them 30 minutes later. After twice fluching and flying a short distance I finally crept close enough to see well and the bird held its head above the grass and didn't move for long enough so I could confirm that the eye had no hint of red tones but was dark brown. That's when I became convinced that this was a pure Glossy and was comfortable that it could not be a hybrid.

HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY?

The only other species that could be confused with Glossy Ibis is White-faced Ibis or hybrids between Glossy x White-faced. The blackish facial skin, light blue lines bordering the facial skin and not bleeding into the feathers around the face, and dark brown iris are typical of Glossy Ibis. White-faced in adult plumage has at least some white in the feathers surrounding the face and continuing around the eye, redd or reddish facial skin, and red iris. Hybrids show plum tones on the facial skin, some red in the iris, and lavender edges of facial skin. Often there are some pale whitish feathers surrounding the face and eye.

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES):

I have extensive experience with White-faced Ibis and have seen six Gloosy and at least as many presumed hybrids over the past twelve months. While I have limited field experience with Glossy Ibis I have studied this identification in depth and am confident that I have a good handle on it.

GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE:

14 years.

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?:

None