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Subject:

1-time alert: White-faced Ibises in No. VA

From:

"Gail B. Mackiernan "

Reply-To:

Gail B. Mackiernan

Date:

Wed, 19 Apr 2006 16:33:57 +0000

Hi --

This is a one-time alert for a rarity in a non-Maryland location. (Further info should be gleaned from the Virginia bird chatline, accessible for non-subscribers through Jack Siler's web site, www.birdingonthe.net, click on "regional reports.")

There are four White-faced Ibises at Huntley Meadows Park, off Rt. 1 in Northern Virginia. They were seen yesterday as well, so may stick around. Barry and I saw them at point-blank range this morning off the boardwalk. They are coming into breeding plumage and they are accompanied by a single Glossy Ibis, giving a tremendously useful opportunity to study the differences between the two Plegadis species. Also a great photo-op.

If they disappear, folks at Jug Bay, KAG or any other suitable habitat to the north should keep their eyes open. Neither of us could recall a *flock* of W-F Ibis in the mid-Atlantic, usually it's a single bird miles away mixed in with 200 or so Glossies!

We stopped at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens on the way back, not much of interest except a lovely Gray Fox hunting for goose eggs out in the marsh, seen from the side observation deck.

Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
Colesville, MD