I guess I have to disagree with you Bob. The bird photographed by Heidi (and first shared by Jay in his initial IBLE report about the bird) shows a definite adult Glossy Ibis with no ring in the bill at all. The photo that Janet took shows a immature ibis that could be either a White-faced or a Glossy but I certainly couldn’t tell myself since I don’t know much about immature ibis. Looking at Sibley’s field guide it would be hard to tell which is which! When I arrived at the dam area, 2 birders already there told me the ibis out on the sandy spit with pelicans, gulls and cormorants was THE bird. I took it for granted that it was even though not getting a good look thru a full power scope. From that spot it flew to south side and I was able to drive to road below the berm, climb up on the berm and get a much better look at the bird. I reported it on ebird that it was a Glossy Ibis, but I’m convinced now that what I saw was an immature ibis and definitely NOT the mature Glossy that Jay/Heidi saw and reported. I am changing my ebird report to say ibis sp. Good lesson for me to not follow the crowd and make sure of the sighting before I get carried away. Not trying to slam anyone here as I know that all there thought it was the Glossy and me along with them. I’ll be like Janet and hopefully get out there again and find the REAL Glossy Ibis.
Thanks, Cheryl

From: mailto:ible-noreply@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2018 4:40 PM
To: Jay Carlisle
Cc: IBLE To Post
Subject: Re: [IBLE] clarification re: age of yesterday’s ibis at Indian Creek

This bird that I encountered, 5 minutes after passing Heidi and Jay on dirt road to Indian Creek Reservoir, I believe is the same bird that was described by jay in his email at 12:23 PM. It is also the bird that Janet photographed with the ‘salmon pink ring near the base of the bill’ in her eBird information. Great pic Janet. I scoped this same bird for almost 11/2 hours moving, walking and flying, back and forth on the south side and below the berm of the dam. During this time 4 other birders had arrived and about 11:15~ the bird flew to the north shore.

Bob Perata
Boise, ID

Sent from my iPad.

On Jul 10, 2018, at 1:13 PM, Jay Carlisle mailto:carlislejay@yahoo.com [ible] wrote:

Based on the reports (here, to Facebook, and via eBird), I get the sense there was some confusion about the age of the Glossy we found/reported. Heidi & I found an adult Glossy in breeding condition/plumage – we haven’t had time to upload our photos to eBird (will soon) but the picture I shared on IBLE & to Facebook yesterday show the reddish/purplish plumage, the gray legs with pink joints, and the narrow blueish facial skin above and below the eye.

Some reports from yesterday have suggested or clearly shown an immature bird – including the great photos in Janet’s eBird list here:

ebird.org/view/checklist/S47097556 (I definitely don’t mean to pick on you Janet! Your photo just provides great food for thought) … but I must admit Heidi & I didn’t even try to identify the young bird 🙂 as that can be difficult & we were so focused on the adult Glossy. I welcome any insights into the identification of juvenile ibis – and whether or not the bird in Janet’s list can be definitively identified.

Thanks,

Jay

eBird Checklist – Indian Creek Reservoir, Ada County, Idaho, US – Mon Ju…