Fall Immature White-faced Ibis

Immature White-faced Ibis foraging in water – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I didn’t anticipate seeing many birds when I arrived in Farmington Bay early yesterday morning. I was tickled to photograph this immature White-faced Ibis. The young ibis was busy foraging and paid no attention to me or the sounds of my camera.

Fall immature White-faced Ibis standing in water – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

When the immature White-faced Ibis did look up it may have been because a hunter drove past me hauling their boat and it rumbled on the road. The noise of the boat caught my attention and I am certain that it caught the attention of the ibis.

Immature White-faced Ibis eating breakfast – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Once the pickup hauling the boat went by and the dust settled the immature White-faced Ibis went back to foraging and eating what it caught. There was something at the tip of the bill of the ibis when I took this image but even when I blew the photo up I couldn’t make out what the prey was.

Some times it doesn’t matter to me what the birds are eating, I am just glad they are finding food while they are in my viewfinder.

Immature White-faced Ibis scarfing up breakfast – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Some of you might be wondering how I know that this White-faced Ibis is an immature bird. This ibis has dark eyes, an adult White-faced Ibis would have red eyes. By about February this young ibis will have red eyes too.  That is how I know that this ibis was hatched this breeding season.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my White-faced Ibis photos plus facts and information about this species.