The White Ibis, with its brilliant blue eyes, is one of the most abundant wading birds in Florida. White Ibises frequent saltwater marshes, coastal swamps, freshwater wetlands, ponds, fields – and lawns.
They probe in the mud for small prey such as insects, crustaceans, and worms (See All about Birds, White Ibis). . . . which explains why the tip of the Ibis’ very long red bill is almost always black. This handsome fellow picked up some decorative nosewear while foraging in the purple Pickerelweed at a local sanctuary ☺️.
LOL! Why yes, you do! 😀😀🌺
I’ve never seen one in the wild. How cool looking they are! It’s a beautiful image!
Haha, thanks so much, Deborah! Living in Florida, it’s easy to forget that these are not commonplace birds in other places😉. We see them all the time, everywhere.
Lucky you! 😀
They are one of the most beautiful words to see in flight.
I agree, Berny… Very graceful. Looking at them sitting on a branch or strolling by, you might never guess that they have those distinctive black-tipped wings.
Very nice! Enjoyed seeing your White Ibis Image!!
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Reed! Thanks for stopping by.
I heard about getting green stuff between your teeth, but, Pickerelweed? I’ve never heard!
Great shot, Carol. I’m sorry about the levity. 🙂
Lol! This ibis really looked a little comical. I love seeing wildlife, including other birds and gators and turtles covered with duckweed or another ‘green stuff’ from the ponds as they stroll or swim around, completely unconcerned about their appearance☺️
We don’t have the white ibis on the west coast. They actually have a pretty small range in the U.S. So great fun to see this one, especially with the muddy bill tip and weed bits. Fun post, BJ, and lovely photo.
Yes, I only just recently realized how very limited their range is, Jet. So nice to hear from you. Thanks so much for your kind words ☺️
I got my photographic share of pickerelweed last month but this is the first time I’ve seen any kind of bird get its physical share.
Lol. Your photos from last month remind me of our many wetland spots here in Palm Beach county when the pickerelweed are in bloom. ☀️
Right. There’s no comparing an inland place like Austin to much Florida, with all its wetlands.
Hard to imagine that such remarkable birds are found in large numbers. Wonderful photo! 😊
And in the evening they fly in in droves to settle in the branches of the tree islands to roost for the night. 💤😴
Wow!😊
Lovely pic BJ, our Australian White Ibis is not quite as pretty in the face as yours. Ours is known as a ‘bin chicken’ as in recent years it has become a pest in our cities where it has chosen to live, scrounging for food scraps.
Interesting! I just read recently that not long ago our White Ibis were considered delicious eating, similar to chicken😬
I love the surprized look in its eye!
☺️They do you have amazing eyes. And during breeding season the blue appears even more vivid as their beaks and legs become even brighter red.
I like ibis – they are cool looking birds!
I do too, Pam! They can look absolutely elegant sometimes, yet utterly common place at other times.
They also frequent the area around here quite regularly,
despite their not being any water.
What wonderful photos, great closeups and post!
Thanks so much! I think of them as rather friendly birds, too, who don’t seem to mind at all being photographed. ☺️
Too funny! And it’s almost as if it’s looking down its bill at that little Pickerelweed, wondering what to do about it. Beautiful bird, one I’ve not seen before.
Lol.. I was thinking the same exact thing! ☺️
Adorable. 😁
Thanks, Irene . . . He definitely was ☺️