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Subject:

White Ibis continues just south of Jug Bay

From:

Fred Shaffer

Reply-To:

Fred Shaffer

Date:

Fri, 1 Aug 2008 20:45:08 -0400

I went kayaking after work today.  Initially it was very hot, but it turned into a pleasant evening.  I put in the Patuxent at Selby Landing and kayaked south towards Mattaponi Creek.  I then went up Mattaponi Creek.  The birding was slow, with Great Blue Herons, Osprey, Forsters Terns, Barn Swallows, Purple Martins, Common Yellowthroats, and Marsh Wren present, but little else.  I kayaked up Mattaponi Creek until the wood bridge for the driving tour hoping to flush up a Least Bittern, but with no success.

As I paddled back up the creek, I was at the last turn before re-entering the Patuxent River when I saw a juvenile White Ibis flying north over the main channel of the Patuxent.  I quickly got my bins on the bird and watched as it methodically continued to fly up the river.  Field marks that I was able to note included:

Long, thin tannish neck outstretched in flight
Long down curved bill
Dark brown above (wings)
Completely white belly, with white extending at least part way up the underside of the wing.

When the bird was at its closest position to me (approximately 300 or 400 feet), I was able to make out the pinkish-orange of the bill.  I was unable to make out any white on the rump, perhaps owing to the bird being above me and at an angle.  The bird continued flying north up the Patuxent River and I eventually lost it behind a line of trees.  I viewed the bird for about 45 seconds or a minute at 6:55 (pm).

Fred Shaffer
Patuxent MOS